I was indeed very lucky — love having friends all over the US!

Very true. The possibility of something like this should never be laughed off — it’s an all too real threat.

I am indeed! Most of my USA visits revolve around visiting a friend. It’s a good way to see the country.

Hi Alex, I guess I just meant that I’ve listened to too many young girls (I mean naive teenagers) laugh about the whole “date rape” thing, as if they think it’s funny and could never happen to them because they’re just having fun with “people they know”. And your perp was a stranger! You can party and still be aware and ‘have your wits about you’. I don’t believe women should have to live in fear, and it makes me angry that they still do, but you can’t always depend on “luck”. It only takes one really bad experience to ruin your pleasure in parties or places, and make you forever uncomfortable with “people you know”. Or cost you your life.

We were in the Castro too. Sorry to hear about your husband :-/ It really is terrifying. I mean that night I don’t remember so I wasn’t aware enough to be afraid, but the twenty-four hours after I was so ill I really got spooked. I’ve never felt nausea like that before… I was almost slipping in and out of consciousness the next day. Awful.

Yeah, healthcare is definitely a mess. It’s crazy what a different experience it is my half of the year when I’m in Thailand and I just go see a specialist when I’m in Bangkok for anything and never worry about the hassle or cost. But when I’m in the US I’m like, ugh, can’t be bothered with whatever disaster that’s going to be. It is sad.

Yeah, it really is. If I had been home in Albany with my doctor I would have gone in a heartbeat but the medical system is such a gamble I was afraid of what I would get and what the bill would be anywhere else. You’re right, it is shameful.

So sorry to hear that, Julia. It reminds me of this story, which went viral on Facebook last year. So glad you’re okay.

Yeah, the uncertainty is the worst. In a weird way I am almost glad the creepy guy got in our cab (and was thrown out, of course) because it makes me much more confident that I understand what happened than if I had just blacked out and been sick for three days after.