Rest in Peace

Today is World AIDS Day. There is not much to say and everything to say.

This is a disease that does not discriminate nor is it bigoted in any way. Anyone can have it. Many of us know that there but for the grace of God they do not have it, but came oh so close to being in a place where they could have gotten it.  

I was lucky, but not because of being smart or cautious. I was simply lucky. I did get Hep C, but am still doing well after 32 years, so I consider myself fortunate. I have seen far too many friends and friends of friends waste away and pass. Such a lonely and ugly disease surrounded by fear and anger and bigotry. So many lost and shunned. So many.  

HIV is everywhere. No one is immune. We all need a cure, a treatment or a vaccine to rid us of this scourge. We have been waylaid by ugly words and thoughts and fears. This is a rotten little virus too small to see without a microscope. But it's a smart virus and it shapeshifts making it hard to pin down. But we will because we must.  

Embrace friends and family who have the virus. Support the many fine people who work to fix it, and never stop realizing that this virus is out to get us and we must use everything in our arsenal to eradicate it and make it history.

Paraphrasing two lines spoken by Michael Caine in the Cider House Rules by John Irving—

They touch me deeply. To those we have lost, to their families, partners, babies, all of them: Good night and rest in peace all you princes and princesses of America; all you kings and queens of the world. Your names are the engine that drives our search for an end to AIDS.