Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald (MH) - Monday, July 22, 1991
Naftali Bendavid; Herald Staff Writer
His "other half," as Harris calls him, had AIDS. So does Harris, who attended a picnic in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday for people infected with HIV, hoping to meet others who understand.
"This is the first time I'm getting out since the funeral," said Harris, 48. "If anyone needs support, I do. I don't wish that ordeal on anyone. It's got to be the hardest thing anyone can deal with."
At the picnic, he met James McNamara, who was diagnosed with AIDS two years ago.
"Look around you. These people are dying," McNamara said, gesturing around a room packed with 50 talking and laughing people. "I am, too. But we don't want to remind people of who's dying and who's not, so we just smile."
Sunday's "Positive Picnic" was organized by the Persons With AIDS Coalition of Broward County, a group with about 120 members that arranges counseling, education, support groups and other help for people with HIV.
"A lot of HIV-positive people just crawl into a shell," said Richard Greenberg, president of Persons With AIDS. "They don't want to deal with people. We hold socials like this to get people out, to show them, 'Hey, life isn't over.' "
Cassandra Bell, diagnosed with AIDS in 1982, put it this way: "Isolation can kill you."
The picnic was held at Broward House in Fort Lauderdale, a group home for people with AIDS. The organizers' message: There's a lot you can do -- medicine, treatment, counseling -- to make your life fuller and healthier.
"What we try to say is, 'You have to be in charge of your life,' " said Greenberg, who learned he was HIV-positive five years ago. "I just look at this as something that happened in my life, and I've got to deal with it as best I can."
Thomas Shidaker, administrator of Broward House, said his agency, which operates almost entirely on donations, also takes a positive approach.
"This isn't a place to come and give up," Shidaker said. "It's a place to come and take care of yourself. It's accepting that you have the virus -- and living with it, getting out and enjoying life."
Broward House holds events such as ice cream socials, watercolor classes and pool parties to bring together people with AIDS or those infected with HIV.
Those gathered at the picnic said coping isn't always easy.
"If you're in a good mood, you can handle anything. If you're in a bad mood, everything bothers you," said Bill St. Andre, 51, who was diagnosed with AIDS last October. "I don't want to die, but I'm not afraid of dying. I just always assume I'm going to be the one who makes it."
"Each person deals with it individually," said Greenberg, a former teacher. "I've seen people decide they're going to fight to the bitter end, and I've seen others give up -- refuse to fight, refuse to take medication -- and they're gone, just like that."
As for himself, Greenberg said: "As soon as I became positive, I decided I was going to live for me and do things I enjoy, to make whatever I have left as enjoyable as possible."
Contact: Persons With AIDS Coalition of Broward County 130 E. McNab Rd. Pompano Beach, Fla. 33060 Phone: 784-0314
CAPTION: PHOTO John Shefcyk cooks hamburgers Sunday (b)
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