Imagine That: Letters from Russell

AIDS memoir in the form of correspondence from a gay man in San Francisco to a straight woman friend in Chicago from the years 1979-1995.

Letter-writing is fast becoming a lost pleasure. But some modern friendships are still bound together by detailed letters reminiscing about life-changing events, passions and everyday struggles. Lydia Stux and Russell Denver Harold met as young adults in Akron, Ohio in 1975. Time may have created physical distance between them, as both moved on with their lives, but letters were their way of staying together. As an openly gay man, Russell related his life stories to his open-minded friend, whether they were witty observations about a recent date, or painful stories about his most recent bout with AIDS-related illnesses. Lydia, in turn, provided Russell with an open ear and open heart, and related all of the changes in her life, her marriage, and her move to Chicago. Russell's letters represent twenty years of a unique and powerful bond between a straight woman and a gay man, documenting the similarities and differences we all have in common.