I visited Holger with my husband Joshua and father-in-law Jerrod. We told him about the election results. He was happy we came and pleased at how the Riverbend TDG handled its new challenge with the mail-in ballots. But we could see that he was not much longer for this world.

Holger taught me one history class at high school. I really was not into history at that time, so I didn’t appreciate what he had to say. And I think I was a forgettable student. But it has really been a pleasure and honor to have had him as my TDG teacher.

And it was Holger that put me into a minor TDG leadership position when there were more deserving people. He saw something in me that I and the others were not seeing.

Francy said I needed to get back into action. It took about eight weeks before I had another hookup from the nightclubs. I promised myself not to get so attached again.

I had been living with Francy for a little more than a year when my doctor told me I had syphilis.

"How could this happen? I've never had unprotected sex."

"Condoms are great," said my doctor, "but they aren't perfect."

I got an antibiotic injection, followed by a three-week prescription of pills. Plus testing once a week. I was told to expect some nausea and body stiffness with this medicine but it would settle down. I was also told not to have sex or even kiss anyone for three weeks and until tests cleared me. A venereal disease nurse got me to give her my sexual contacts, something about tracing. I complied as best I could.

The medicine was hard on me. I had to take two days off work.