Gone Today, Here Tomorrow: A Memoir

By Randall Neece

Book Overview

Randall Neece had it all - a successful career in television, a perfect marriage to his husband, Joe, and a future that was all mapped out. That map was suddenly run through a shredder when Randy was diagnosed with AIDS at a time when there was no hope of survival. Yet, something remarkable happened. Guided by Joe's love and commitment, and by tackling obstacles and facing his own fears, Randy realized that he had found a place he'd forgotten existed. He found a placed called tomorrow. Written with humor and unflinching honesty, Randy's story unveils the triumph of the human spirit and reflects the true meaning of love, companionship, and marriage. Gone Today, Here Tomorrow is an inspirational love story for our times.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CTCYYTWG
• ISBN13: 9798823021098
• Release Date: January 2024
• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Educational and emotional a book that kept me turning pages

When I purchased this book I did it in support and interest for my friend who is the author. When I began to read the pages I learned more about my friend and more about a new perspective on life than I had imagined. I found the book to be educational concerning two aspects of AIDS. First I learned about the disease and secondly I learned the effects that is has on the life of someone infected and those close to that person. Randy & Joe's story really moved me and I am not the type of person who wears my emotions on my sleeve. The love, devotion and support that they have for one another makes me proud to be their friend. I guess on the exterior you could say that I lead a different life from these two friends but what I found in this book has led me to feel a new connection with them as I feel we share the same values. I was able to identify with their unwavering love for spouse, family and support system of friends. Due to these similarities in values I was able to forget about sexual preference and I was really able to identify with the story. It showed me that although being infected with AIDS or being sick could break someones spirit, that with the right support it really can make people stronger. In conclusion I wanted to thank Randy for writing this book so I could have the priveledge of reading it. I would recommend it to anyone who needs some inspiration and guidance in what it means to be in a supportive relationship and to share unconditional love. Thanks Randy, The Wolfgang

Inspirational

Laugh, cry, and rage with this writer...I dare you to resist turning another page once you have started reading this book. What a gift to be able to write about one's personal tragedy with wit and sarcasm...an amazing inspiring memoir.

Spunk

I've had the pleasure of knowing and performing with Randy and his talented family for many years, and will testify to the fact that Randy has more SPUNK than Jack has Beanstalks. Congratulations, Randy! Dale Colgrove in Ft. Worth, Texas

Realistic, emotional journey through love from despair to a new hope

In autobiographical style, the author starts with his childhood, growing up in a conservative Quaker family in a small Southern California town. He knew he was "different" than most of his peers early on, although he really didn't have a word for it (homosexual) until his early teens. Involvement in singing and acting in high school plays, followed by five years of touring with The Young Americans singing group, were just diversions that helped him not to deal with his sexual orientation, until he left the group at 21 and moved to Hollywood to explore a career in television production. Randy knew that Joe was "the one" for him, the moment they met at a gay bar, when Randy was pushing 30. They moved in together immediately, had a commitment ceremony on their fifth anniversary, and were very happy ... until a routine insurance physical revealed that Randy had HIV, contracted before he met Joe. Thankfully, Joe remained negative. The book takes you through the years following the 1988 diagnosis of being positive, to the first of many opportunistic infections Randy suffered, which marked its progress to full blown AIDS about five years later. The author deals with the realities of such a diagnosis that aren't often covered in such stories, including the financial uncertainties, the emotional and mental toll on the caregiving partner, all the while dealing with toxic medications that kept one alive, but at a great decrease in the quality of that life. The late 1990's saw the advent of protease inhibitors, new drugs that - while not a cure - gave patients such as Randy a new reason to hope. They work on rebuilding the lives that had been put on "hold" for the past decade, trying to establish a more enjoyable and successful career path for Joe than the one he left behind, and also to negotiate Randy's gradual return to the work force. An emotional yet realistic journey from despair to a new hope, excellently written by a talented author. Much recommended. Five stars out of five.

Here Today, You'll Want to Read the Entire Book By Tomorrow

Here I am: a straight guy, happily married to my wife for 25 years with a wonderful 20 year old son. Why would I love reading this book? Because it is a well written, wryly funny, poignant love story with a very happy ending. At times achingly painful while describing the devastation that HIV/AIDS inflicts on its victims, it is also full of hope and inspiration. This book is a "must read" for anyone who provides health care to the HIV positive community or who has in any way been affected by the AIDS epidemic.