Love is an Orientation
The other day I had dinner with a dear friend. I’ve known this man for years and he is oh-so-close to me in all ways of life. I honestly believe God put us together. I write about him in my book, in fact, I dedicated the book to him.
He has AIDS. In fact, he is one of the few living people that has the original strand of AIDS, from when it exploded in the 80s. He often recounts how all of his friends died long ago – and he doesn’t know one person, other than himself, who is still living with that original strand.
My friend, he’s dying. Quickly.
His CD4 count is now under 100. To give you understanding, a normal adult’s CD4 count is around 1,200.
He wanted to meet with me to let me know he is now one cold away from dying; and that he is putting his will and after death plans together because he probably doesn’t have much time left.
When I first met him he had no hope – ready to put a bullet in his head. Years later he’s at peace, knowing he’s loved by God, by me, and by a number of others connected through The Marin Foundation. It’s a strange juxtaposition to see someone on a journey for so many years, come to a place of peace, and then find out he has only a little time left.
He knows what is going to kill him.
No one should know that.
All I want is to be with him, and spend as much time as I can giving love to a man who has irrevocably left his mark on my life. The Lord has given him to me, to us, to this world; and one day soon the Lord will take him away. When that day comes, as is in his Jewish faith (an half of my heritage as well), there is happiness in death because we will finally be reunited with G-d, our loving Creator.
Much love.
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