In Memoriam, with all our Love

[Sfteve]

All friends are well and alive when we remember them. Today would have been his #49.

It was the early 80s, we were out and about having us lots of fun even when this thing didn´t have a name or explanation.

We have lost many friends over the years, so today, on this friends birthday I want to pull a song from those early days to remember him and all who left too soon. Let´s keep them alive by remembering the happy times we shared. I´m not the only one who lost someone.

Who do you want to remember today?

"There´s Always Something There To Remind Me - Viola Wills"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvnBKA2PZYo

[Ann]

Steve, I don't normally post in LTS (because I'm not an LTS) but I'm going to claim administerial privilege this one time.

As you are a new member, I'm not sure if you are aware of our In Memoriam forum. I'm not saying your thread should have been posted there, I just want you to be aware of its existence as you may want to add some of your friends and/or lovers. I spent some time in that forum myself yesterday, remembering lost friends, happy times, sad times and having a little cry. It's therapeutic, for sure.

I love that song. I hadn't heard it in ages, so thank you for posting it.

Hugs,
Ann
xxx

[LabRat]

I'd also like to thank you for the posting Steve. We have all lost friends and loved ones and it is good to remember them.
The song brought back many good memories.
I wasn't aware of the In Memoriam...I'll have to check it out.

[Sfteve]

Hi Ann, hi Lab!

Thank you for the info about the Memorial Forum and most especially for your HUG. I am just learning to navigate the site and forums. My post reflects my state of mind from last night. Your HUG came just at the right time, thank you again.

What I wanted to say is that yesterday I celebrated a diseased friend´s birthday, it could have been mine or yours it was a good day for anyone´s birthday. I wanted to talk about the LTS left behind to cope with 30 years of pain, uncertainty and losses.

My first brush with HIV/AIDS came at a very early age in 1981 when no one knew it existed, I was 22 yrs. I had dated a guy who suddenly died of “respiratory complications.” Two years later people blamed his death to the “gay disease” they called it back then. No name, no explanation, no treatment. Nothing prepared us for that. At age 22, I had a crash course on survival, responsibility and growing up. In 1984 I tested POZ for HIV AND for the WILL to fight back. I joined Stop AIDS Project-San Francisco as a volunteer were I grew up as a young adult. This experience changed my life forever.

So, what all this has to do with my post about the dead? Well, whenever I feel down, sad or frustrated I close my eyes and search in my memories to find a moment or two where I can be with ALL my friends again. I call it a safe place. The music is only the vehicle that takes me there. it is then when I can see and hear them say what no living person has ever said in the past 30 years..

“it wasn´t your fault, we didn´t know what was happening, it will get better”

A BIG HUG BACK TO YOU!