Subscribe to this blog's feedThis is my birthday BLOG since I have so remiss in writing lately! Busy with the mini-van and rediscoveries!
It has been 8 years since the PML diagnosis on Nov. 5, 1999 and today is my birthday, Nov. 7; 49 – I really never expected to see it, but, here I am!
A good friend from high school shares the same day and year with me so we have been joking that next year, we will have a “Hawaii 5-0” themed party. She has been a friend for more than 31 years now and A LOT of fun even just to talk to – her sense of humor is soooo off-the-wall and unexpected – you HAVE to laugh.
Another friend, gay, yes gay, sent me a beautiful birthday card reminding of all my obstacles met with perseverance which he admired and then enclosed another small handwritten slip of paper:
"The Will of God will never take you
where the Grace of God will not protect you."
I was absolutely taken back by his gesture, because my friend never seemed remotely religious or spiritual. His gesture warranted a heartfelt thank-you telephone call by me and we had a lengthy conversation about life in general – mainly how it twists and turns; never going how we had planned like back in our 20s. He is HIV negative as is his lover of 12 years. We have been friends for 25 years and never once discussed religion or spirituality until 2 days ago. It was nice but I then wonder – is it age that makes people, my friends namely, more spiritual? Or, as he stated so kindly – me?
This quote is now my favorite and has become my mantra, so that I can hope to understand the direction my life has now taken. And, please remember, this is my personal belief and how I am dealing with my lot in life and as I am always saying, I would never presume to pontificate my personal spirituality on anyone. I only wish to let people know what has given me that little extra ‘umph’ to keep going. I sure as hell do not expect an outpouring of sympathy or congratulations because to me, this is the “hand I’ve been dealt” and my own motivation is what drives me.
Happy Birthday to all the November babies…and everyone else too!
Life is what you make of it no matter what has happened and I for one, am not ready to give up!
Comments (4)
Happy Birthday Ron! We are all glad you are here. You and your friend should know that the note they sent you and your sharing it here has touched everyone who has read it. Just more examle of the ripple effect that can happen when we seek to touch another.
Thank you, Happy Birthday and God Bless.
Robert
Posted by Robert | November 10, 2007 12:28 PM
Posted on November 10, 2007 12:28
Can't believe I missed your birthday I hope you had a great day! Happy belated birthday!
Posted by Jeff | November 13, 2007 11:02 AM
Posted on November 13, 2007 11:02
Happy late birthday. I am HIV+ 21 years, not religious, not spiritual, although I have gone through many phases through that many years. I hate saying, "Thank you for sharing," but thank you for sharing "the Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you." I was reading your blog for the first time, just out of curiosity, honestly. And those words socked me in the heart and brought immediate tears - not because they mean anything to me, or that I wish they could - but just because that's what they did.
Similarly, this is the fifteenth anniversary of The Quilt, and Grace Cathedral (San Francisco) was displaying 28 panels in it's big dark Gothic nave, for World AIDS Day(s). I thought I had missed it, but they were still up on Wednesday (December 5), so I went to see them - I don't really know why - out of respect, or personal anger that I feel left out of community that felt more inclusive, more human - I'm a white, straight, woman - in the heightened state of emergency of times past.... Whatever the reason I went, when I walked in that cathedral and saw all those quilts together draped from on high in that hollow, protected space - Grace - Cathedral, I don't have words for it. It doesn't matter why. I wrote a post in my blog about things about the ones that struck me most if you're interested - http://conversationsintime.blogspot.com/2007/12/world-aids-days-observation-quilt.html
Thank you, and I hope you will be enshrouded with grace wherever this year of yours takes you.
+PHc
Posted by +PHc | December 11, 2007 7:09 PM
Posted on December 11, 2007 19:09
March 31st, 2008
I just watched the interview with Jake Glaser this morning
and felt it was very SAD that this story came
out to "promote" AZT, a drug that probably
caused his mom and sister's death - and his life
is saved because he is not on such a drug.
Why didn't that show do a story on the December 2007
VERDICT of the women that won millions because
of the HIV tests - and showed she had signs of AIDS
"from" the medicine?
I had hoped the days were over
that the pharmaceutical companies were going to cover
for these drugs. I do not believe there is anything called HIV (no virus), but that the HIV medications CAUSED AIDS.
Instead Jake Glaser - in my opinion should be SUEING for wrongful death of his mom and sister, and not promoting AZT as a miracle drug - when it could have been what killed two members of his family. Maybe he just believed a LIE all these years, and needs to know the truth, and can "someday" be a spokesperson to really HELP.
Please get this information to Jake - so he can at least do his own research on HOW his mom and sister died. The truth sets us free! I don't think he knows the truth. Jake seemed like such a nice kid - I felt he really should have this information. I know someone from high school that took AZT and died too, and left behind a daughter with no mom (she also died after her boyfriend died). I also believed the HIV lie too - UNTIL I meet a homeless man in Times Square that told me and someone I was with that day..that he was diagnosed with HIV back around 1982 along with about 5 of his friends (all drug users - with needles) and his friends took the AZT and felt great for weeks (as at first it killed off all bad viruses in their body assumably - but THEN it supposably kills off your natural immune system - what fights sickness and ends up killing you from my understanding) and then a long painful death that took about 8-9 years. The homeless man lived on the street - did drugs and drank alcohol, smoked - etc., and is a HEALTHY man to this day...still living on the streets and NEVER got AIDS - and still reads HIV positive. The ONLY one of his friends ALIVE and the difference is - he did NOT take the AZT and his friends did. I hardly call AZT a "miracle drug", maybe a better word could be (in my opinion) is a DEATH SENTENCE to those that take or took it. I am not sure if they even use it anymore - because of so many deaths and the controversy of the drug.
He needed to take a look at these webpages:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/07/15/aids_experiments_on_children_in_new_yorks_incarnation_center_a_human_tragedy.htm
http://www.flingr.com/blogs/action/showblog/ToDate/-1/UserID/521/
Posted: 11/27/07 4:55 am
RETHINKING AIDS.............
http://www.rethinkingaids.com/
http://www.rethinkingaids.com/quotes/rethinkers.htm
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/aids.htm
Also - a good webpage is:
www.chick.com :) Life is WONDERFUL when you
know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH sets you free.
www.aliveandwell.org
Posted by Life is WONDERFUL | March 31, 2008 2:07 PM
Posted on March 31, 2008 14:07