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“And I act like I have faith, and like that faith never ends…but I really just have friends.”

-Dar Williams, “Friends”.


It didn’t occur to me until late in the day that I should maybe write something about World AIDS Day. I feel as though I should have something profound to say. Much like when people come from out of town to Chicago and want to know where to go, I am temporarily drawing a blank.

I think my work speaks for itself, especially in terms of what I write about. I feel like what I do day in, day out pretty much sums it up. I’d like to say that I wasn’t always like this, or that I can credit my faith in God for all my strength. I can't. I have never hidden my status. I disclosed it all 13 years ago on the phone to those who remain my closest friends. I flew home and cried with them, and I have had them with me on this journey from day one.

With the advent of Facebook, as much as I have dogged it in the past, I have re-connected with other friends who have been amazing. The encouragement they give me to keep writing, to fight the good fight, is immeasurable. It’s funny because sometimes people from anywhere outside a large city get stereotyped as narrow-minded, or “hicks”. The people who surprise me with kind words most often are high school friends from Wichita. I am proud to be from there. It proves that it is those stereotypes that are harmful, not the people. We are all multi-faceted and unique.

“Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a huge battle”. Someone I loved lived her life that way. I am just doing my best to come close to that.