Subscribe to this blog's feedOkay I can admit it. This Steve Madden loving, stiletto wearing, pretty girl looked a little different a few years ago. She used to wear all the new Jordan’s, sweat suits, jersey’s, and even a few baseball hats, and this was an everyday thing, not just sometimes. Yes I was a tomboy. In high school I was not a cheerleader or majorette or anything near it. In fact, I was a captain of the basketball team and played every sport but golf and tennis. You could not pay me to wear heels, and I kept my hair in conrows straight to the back. OMG! This is embarrassing, but it’s the truth. Of course being an athletic had it perks-- like my leg strength prepared me for the stiletto pain and my arm strength for combing out my weave-- but even more important, the competitiveness has helped me with everyday life, including living with HIV. Not to mention that in high school, I had so many cute play brothers –you know, the ones the girls chased after in the school. Looking back all my MALE friends were the same. “Hey, Marv, can you get me hooked up with your friend.” I mean I was never a candidate. I was too boyish for them and too much like one of the guys. You hear the story about the captain of the football team and the cheerleader, not the girl’s basketball captain. Come on now. That does not even sound right. Now with my stilettos, a lot more self-esteem and confidence, I feel like I am now a CANDIDATE.
Before the lights, the reporters and the TV cameras and before the diagnosis, I was a little country girl who went by the nicknames of Marv, MB and sometimes Marvelous (the last, not so often.) In fact, in my eyes, I was far from being marvelous. At school, yeah, I was known, but at home I never felt good enough. I had a bad attitude, and I was constantly acting out in school. But I was a hell of an athlete. And when I found out I was positive, I went straight basketball mode. GAMETIME. I came up with a strategy. It was simple-- kick HIV’s ass. I did not care if I was the underdog or if HIV was undefeated for 5 years in a row. I knew that if I went in there with a winning attitude, I would come away with the victory. That simple. The only difference is that this time, I’m trying to be the coach and the player. Lol. Of course sometimes, I shoot the ball and I miss, and even though I am an all-net person, sometimes the ball rolls around the rim, but hey, it goes in eventually. Trust me, I know that this is a close game. But at the end of the 4th quarter (or overtime), I HAVE THE VICTORY. That is all that counts.
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hey girl i love your posts :) i like your attitude, and it fills me with inspiration, thank you!!!
thanks for talking about yourself, sometimes it gets lonely in the world eventhough we work play and think we are living. But we keep our chin up! you to..... with love, James....
Hello, Marvelyn,
My name's Sophia, I'm 18 and live in Poland. I'm currently in high school, in a biology-chemistry class and hope to become a doctor one day. :) I'm a neggie myself but some of my gay friends seem quite ignorant about the virus and I got to be a source of information for them, and a psychologist in a way, 'cause I listen to heartbreaking stories. Perhaps you heard about Polish scandal - the conscious infecting of Polish girls by S. Mol. In Poland there's a lot to be done, I mean informing people, preventive measures, use of condoms not only contraceptive pills and so on.
Of course I'm not a celeb like u :)))), but one day I hope to be a doc, an endocrinologyst and/or neurologist dealing especially with all these problems connected with AIDS. You're a real inspiration to me and I want to thank you. You're doing a wonderful job. May God bless you, girl.
You're a remarkable person, and I hope that between your courage and resilience, and the continued march of medical advancement victory is the tide of the times to come.
I really enjoyed reading your blog...maybe if you have a chance you can view mine...Its mostly a collection of my poetry ...It feels good to know that I'm not in this fight alone:) Thanks for the inspiration.
T'jai
Http://Rainn72.Blogspot.com
Marv,
It is such a pleasure to see you doing well. I have noticed you now for quite some time on talk shows and in magazines and it is good to know that you have not let this beat you. I encourage you to continue to do what do my sistah and be a voice of courage and victory.
Much Love,
R.
HEY MARVY,
YOU ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED YOUNG LADY! THANKS SO MUCH FOR SPREADING THE WORD TO TODAYS YOUTH. IM SURE THAT IT IS EASIER FOR KIDS TO LISTEN TO YOU BECAUSE YOUR A YOUNG PRETTY GIRL AND PEOPLE WITH HIV ARE NORMAL YOUNG PRETTY PEOPLE TOO! PEOPLE THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY TO HAVE HIV...I REMEMBER A MAN WHO CAME TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT HIV ONE TIME...HE TOLD US "I HAVE HIV, I AM VERY SUCCESFUL, I HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS, AND I HAVE KIDS AND AM HAPPILY MARRIED....THE GUYS WAS A SUCCESFUL MILLIONAIRE! AND LIVED A NORMAL HAPPY LIFE...I DO NOT HAVE HIV BUT I HOPE THAT PEOPLE READ YOUR BLOGS BECAUSE THEY BRING POSITIVITY NOT ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV...
Hello Marv,
GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! I am pressing toward the same as a public speaker in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but I have little support. I cry alot, feel less as a woman cause things are not going fast enough for me I guess with the public speaking. I would love to go as far as you are in the game, maybe we can stay in contact with each other, I would really love to---really--no joke!!!! Keeping my head above water right now is hard but thank GOD FOR YOU! We share a few things in common so hope to hear from you and talk one Afro American woman to another.
Much love,
Tina
Through the few recent posts I read, I notice you never indicate how you got infected. Who was the guy? How did you meet? How/when/what did he say to get into your pants? Etc.