In Memory, On This Day...

[rbnyc]

Today is World AIDS Day.
Though I remember her always, on this day especially,
I remember my girlfriend, my dear southern belle, Michele.
Michele did not have AIDS and she did not die from AIDS,
but AIDS was the biggest part of Michele's life.
She always said, she'd rather be back home picking peaches
than in New York City.
But New York City is where she made her home,
because it was her brother's home and she needed to be near him.
She loved her brother more than anything,
and in the early to mid nineties, he was very sick with AIDS.

Michele moved to the city to be near him, and to care for him.
But she didn't just care for him.
She worked hard to donate her time
and her money to many AIDS organizations in the city.
She worked in the kitchen at God's Love We Deliver.
She donated items to Housing Works,
and gave her hard-earned money to GMHC.
And she was always there for her brother.

It wasn't AIDS that took her life.
It was a hit-and-run driver.
Michele, who had worked so hard to enhance the lives of others,
was left to die alone on the street
by someone who could have saved her
if he'd only stopped to call 911.

At her memorial service, her brother said,
"If you want to honor Michele's memory,
put yourself into service.
Give something back to the community."

After that, I quit bartending and started working
for the LGBT Community Center,
and began my career in the non-profit sector.

Even now, Michele is still changing lives.




Dear Michele,

Thank you for your love. Thank you for being beautiful and inspirational. I will always love you. Rest in peace.

Your Sweetheart,

Rene

[Bertha Venation]

1. Rene

:hug:

[rbnyc]

3. ((Bertha))

See you at lunch time.

:loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Dearest Rene, thank you for sharing Michele with us.

sniffle. That was beautiful...just as she must have been.

Hugs,Laura

[rbnyc]

5. You're welcome. And thank you.

((Laura))

See you at lunch. It's 9:02 now! Gotta get crackin'.

:loveya:

[katinmn]

4. Beautiful tribute to a selfless person

Brought tears to my eyes.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[rbnyc]

6. Thanks katinmn.

She was very special.

:loveya:

OK, now, really, I'll be back at lunch.

;-)

[CornField]

7. What a wonderful tribute, Rene

Rest in peace, Michele. Hugs to you, Rene.

[rbnyc]

15. hugs (nt)

[L84TEA]

8. WOW!

That was a strong message. This should be a comericial for every American to wake up too. It is so true... But she didn't die alone, maybe physically... but her heart was filled with many.

:loveya:

[rbnyc]

16. Thanks for that.

I like to remember her strong and stubborn and feisty like she was, but it's hard not to picture her as she might have been in those last moments. It helps to think that all those who loved her were in her heart at that time.

[Feathered Fish]

9. Hugs!

Wow, if there were only more selfless people like that. RIP

:hug:

[rbnyc]

17. I agree.

But just one touches so many.

[motely36]

10. Thanks for sharing this Rene

I'll say a pray for Michele.

[rbnyc]

18. Thank you. (nt)

[nine23]

11. Beautiful.

What a way to start my day. I just woke up here on the West coast (6:30am), checked DU, and found this.

A wonderful life. I'll try to come close to this today. And I think I'll phone my big sister...

Thanx, rbnyc.

[rbnyc]

14. I'm so glad...

...Michele inspired you to call your sister. Thanks for sharing that.

[Left Is Write]

12. What a beautiful tribute.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.

[rbnyc]

19. Thank you. (nt)

[fluffernutter]

13. that was so touching and amazing.

it was a beautiful tribute for a beautiful person. thank you for reminding us and for sharing Michele with us :hug:

[rbnyc]

20. You're welcome.

And thank you for caring and for your thoughtful post.

:loveya:

[GOPisEvil]

21. That was beautiful!

:hug:

[rbnyc]

23. Hi!

Thanks.

:hug:

[no name no slogan]

22. ....

....that was beautiful. I am literally speechless. :grouphug:

[rbnyc]

24. I'm so glad I have you wonderful DUers to share her with.

My husband and I always toast to her on this day. And I make some donations in her memory.

[no name no slogan]

65. and we're glad you're here

you're one of the good ones! :toast:

[rbnyc]

25. Thanks for sharing in Michele's memory with me, everyone.

Lunch break is over now. I'll be back for a couple minutes after work. Then it's home to my boys.

:hi:

[hunter]

26. This should be kept up top all day...

[rbnyc]

27. Thank You.

I was just checking in. Nice to see your post.

[rbnyc]

28. One kick before I go home.

Thanks everyone.

Goodnight.

[buddhamama]

29. beautiful, Rene

May we all be inspired daily. Love and Peace.

[rbnyc]

37. Thanks!

How lovely to come home and see all these new messages.

[davidinalameda]

30. she and the rest of those taken from us are in my thoughts

[rbnyc]

38. Indeed.

Thank You.

[foreigncorrespondent]

31. Thank you for sharing this with us!

Because I am a day ahead of you, yesterday was World Aids Day for me.

I had to work yesterday evening, but because I arrived a little earlier than I thought I would I decided to take a walk around the mall first. While walking around I came across some people raising funds for the Victorian Aids Council. This is a group that raise funds to offer financial help to those with Aids, so I donated every last bit of money I had in my wallet. It wasn't much, but I do realize every little bit helps.

While I was driving home last night after work, I was listening to my local queer radio station and they were talking about World Aids Day, and talking about how most days of the year, the queer community at large don't really talk about Aids, but this is the one day they do. I began to think about that, and I do know Sapph and I talk about Aids, not because either of us have it, but because we do know people who do have it. And I was thinking, maybe it is time to try and get the world queer community talking more about it, and supporting the Aids community a lot better. After all, this is something that affects our community the greatest.

I am working now, and I intend to make a yearly donation to the VAC in both Sapphs and my name, but I would also like to make donations in both our names to and organiztion that works towards finding a cure for this horrible disease, does anyone have any suggestions?

[rbnyc]

39. Good Question.

I will try to find out.

[foreigncorrespondent]

55. Thanks rb. (n/t)

[rbnyc]

57. What I've found:

http://www.aidsresearch.org/

http://www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/index.html

http://www.searchforacure.org/

[foreigncorrespondent]

61. Great!!!

Thanks, rb! I have saved these sites in my bookmarks, and after Christmas, I will begin looking at donating to them. :)

Thanks so much. :)

[orpupilofnature57]

32. Thats love,god bless you

[rbnyc]

40. you too (nt)

[Book Lover]

33. Thank you for posting this

Thank you very much

[rbnyc]

41. Hi book lover!

:loveya:

Thank you!

[Book Lover]

43. Hi!

:hi:

[Cuban_Liberal]

34. In memory of Robert...

Your spirit took wing October 23rd, 2003, but you will live always in our hearts.

[rbnyc]

42. That's beautiful.

IMO Robert,

:hug:

[Cuban_Liberal]

51. He was a dear friend.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.

:hug:

[Bouncy Ball]

35. Beautiful, thank you!

[rbnyc]

44. Thank you!

How'd you pick your screenname. btw? Bouncy Bouncy Bally is a song I sing to my son.

[Bouncy Ball]

48. A friend suggested it and I said "sounds good!"

Check your PM, by the way.

[rbnyc]

49. OK

Thx!

[donheld]

36. In memory of all "god rest ye merry gentlemen"

[rbnyc]

45. Thanks for posting that pic. (nt)

[tigereye]

46. In memory of Bill and Howard

I miss you guys. RIP.

[rbnyc]

47. RIP

:loveya:

[flamingyouth]

50. What a beautiful tribute

It made me cry. My late husband worked for an HIV/AIDS advocacy organization here, and everyone there was so kind to me, even amid all of the sadness they see every day at work. I have lost many friends to AIDS - way too many to count - and I always hold them in my heart, especially on this day.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend; she sounds like one in a billion. :hug:

[rbnyc]

53. ((flamingyouth))

:hug:

Thanks for sharing about your husband. We're connected in so many ways.

[Caoimhe]

52. Richard, the first person I ever knew who died of AIDS

My neighbor Richard died of AIDS in 1986, quite early on after a three or four year battle with the disease. He was a friend, a trustworthy man who I housesat for and adored his wonderful dog and cat and exotic fish. He knew I was not like the other kids in our hick town. He was treated badly for being semi-openly gay. Everyone knew and avoided him and his boyfriend. He knew I didn't judge him. He paid me well and we spent many hours just talking about life and art and music and animals. He will always live in my heart, that caring person lives on through me and all the lives he touched. I hope someday to meet his son that he talked about all the time. I learned many things from Richard, but perhaps the most important thing was he showed me that this world is full of people with different lifestyles, religious views, sexual orientations, shades of skin, etc...

[rbnyc]

54. Here's to Richard.

Thanks for posting about him.

[kittycat1164]

56. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing n/t

[salin]

58. the power of legacy, is not the money we leave

but that lives have been touched... and the biggest legacy is when lives have been changed for the better.

There are many who should be remembered on this day, and many of those - especially those taken early in the epidemic when it was so grossly misunderstood - who touched and changed lives and never knew that they had done so. Here is to all of those beautiful souls, no longer with us - but who have contributed to us (collectively) by changing others (and ourselves) within our midst.

[rbnyc]

60. beautiful post

thx

[salin]

63. 'twas inspired

by your words... hate to say that I would have 'missed the day' - and the time to reflect, mourn and celebrate - without your beautiful, yet somber, thread/post.

thank you.

[NC_Nurse]

59. Thank you for such a

beautiful dedication.

It's nice to be reminded of all the caring, giving people in the world and to spend a moment being grateful for them. :hug:

[sans qualia]

62. That was wonderful, thank you so much for sharing it

Michele is truly someone who deserves remembrance. :hug:

[RagingInMiami]

64. you're an inspiration