Molly & Kyle

I called Molly after I left work today....she was happy to hear from me. She's planning to take the ARRT exam in about a week! Just to backtrack a little, to become a Radiologic Technologist, you must go to an approved school (community college or the like) and get an Associate's degree. And you must also do 1800 hours of clinical education in the workplace (mostly in hospitals or clinics). I first met Molly when I worked at St. Joseph's Hospital and part of my job was to be the student clinical coordinator. We became fast friends (even though I was technically her superior), but after she left St. Joseph's sometime in early 2005, we lost touch. I heard through the grapevine (it's a small grapevine in Tucson, AZ) that she took her ARRT registry test and failed. I was a little shocked, as she was a competent student. Some time later, I heard that she took the test a second time AND STILL FAILED! It is a hard exam to take, but few people fail it (there are a some, mostly from her school). As time went by I often wondered what became of her. One day she called the hospital out of the blue and we chatted briefly, but I was busy and couldn't really talk. Then this past spring she called me at home and asked if I would tutor her and help her pass the ARRT registry exam. She's always working, so it's hard to get together. We started studying on Saturdays, but Molly likes to drink and would usually have a hangover (not a good frame of mind for studying). So we'd blow off studying and go drink somewhere. We did this for a few Saturdays and then she went out town and I went out of town.....and our routine fell apart. Then I talk to her today and she is about to take the TEST! This is the 3rd time and do or die!! She has severe test anxiety and I think that's why she can't pass it (she was so close to passing the 2nd time, 1 percentage point short). So I told her we could study on Saturday, so we'll see......we'll probably end up drunk somewhere.....we always have a lot of fun either way.............

Speaking of old friends, I also talked to my friend Kyle today. I worked with him at St. Joseph's (he is a rad tech also). He is the most gay-friendly straight man that ever existed. He's even been to gay bars (he's married and has a baby). His wife, Amy, is a hairdresser, so they know lots of gay people that way. Many hairstylists are gay (you didn't know!!). I was not very "out" at the hospital, only a few people knew, but everyone suspected. Kyle actually got me to "come out" to him. We were only "work" friends and Kyle was a former student of mine also. He is very cool and loves to bear hug people (mainly the females). He is quite the talker, as I remember. When I left St. Joseph's for my present clinic job in October '05, we exchanged cell #'s and did the usual "yeah, we'll get together sometime", but never did. He did actually call me a few weeks after I left St. Joe's and I called him back, but we just played phone tag. I always thought it was strange that he would want to hang out with me, beings I'm gay and he's straight. Straight men are rarely that comfortable with their sexuality. Kyle is one of a kind and I hope to have more contact with him. Working in the healthcare field, I know more people than I ever have in my whole life. It's nice...........

I haven't let anyone except Jose see this blog. I told Joe about it, but didn't give him the address. If I let people I know start reading this, how in the world can I talk about them and not get busted?! I want to be able to say anything here, but if I know so and so might read it, won't I feel inhibited? I know over time I'll be saying all kinds of things about Jose, not necessarily nice things either. We have our share of problems and fights and I have doubts all the time about our future together....But that is best left for another time. I never knew I'd have so much to say here.....So, I won't be getting to Madonna tonite or fat people or my history with Jose.....or our vacation last month, which started with the Madonna concert in Glendale....all in good time. It sure was good to talk to my friends today....friends are important.