World AIDS Day

My friend Lawrence died of AIDS in 1994, when treatment was still fairly rudimentary. We were exercise friends and watching him weaken and die so quickly was heartbreaking. He was alone, still living in a mostly intolerant, frightened world that thought he deserved this illness. At his funeral, we released balloons and then partied--because he hated the idea of mourning over him. We sang this song, which he loved: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7yjMLNops. This disease has caused many such stories. Here's hope that in another ten years, no one will die or be afflicted by it.