Thank you Jen for another delicious
German chocolate cake!
Twenty
years from now you will
be more disappointed by
the things you didn't do
than by the ones you did
do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe
harbor. Catch the trade
winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover.
~Mark Twain
I
stood looking at my new drivers license today,
the expiration date read 2014 and it was dreamlike
beyond description. When I was told two decades
ago, “Mr. Bowers, you have Lymphoma or
AIDS
and you need to prepare for the worst,” I never
in my wildest dreams thought I’d live to see
the 90’s, the new millennium, let alone be reading
in 2006 that my license will expire in 2014.
By all standards, I too should have expired
a long time ago. Forty-three marks another year
of triumph and sadness, it is indeed bittersweet
at times.
Our fight and mine are far
from over! I can’t thank those of you enough
who helped me ring in another year in fine
Pirate
fashion! Your thoughtfulness, presence and gifts
are deeply appreciated. It was a picture-perfect
day with dear friends who helped me to celebrate.
We flew kites, played pin the tail on the donkey
and watched a blindfolded Pirate hack away at
a skull and cross bones piñata FULL of candy.
I had to show that piñata who’s boss! Who says
we have to truly ‘age.’ Even aging in dog years
with HIV (I’m roughly 180) , my heart and spirit
remain young and hopeful. Hugs and love were
plenty and I can’t thank all
of you enough who helped to make this an incredibly
special day for me. My Phoenix tattoo will indeed
be a joint tribute for hope, life and survival.
I am eternally grateful to all who have blessed
my fantastic voyage! Your love, support and
compassion truly humbles me to my tired bones!
Thank
you Mitch and Teresa!
Thank
you Sarah, Chris and Jim!
Yo
Bob,
Aye, matey... it was grand to see
ya!
Your strength, compassion and kindness
are some of the things the world
could use a lot more of. We
need you to continue to prosper
and grow - and have many, many,
many happy returns of your birthday!
Cheers and hugs,
Jim
Git
yer Pirate face on!
Thank you Judy, Kristen and Luke!
Definitely
a reason to celebrate with a hearty
Arrrrrghhhh!
Thank you Teresa and Mary!
We'll
toughen Lora up! Thank you girl!
Pirates
have no need for forks!
A little
more than an Arrrrghhh!
Thanks Brian!
Everyone
joined in the fun!
O.K. We've gone
completely mad! Thank you Tracy!
A
very special gift from my dear friend. Thank you
Chris
Bob-
Those who
know you well can see through that 'One
Tough Pirate' exterior to this 'Crayon
Pirate' that lies beneath...A man who,
at 43, can still see life with the vision
of a child-the ability to notice and
appreciate the small things and opportunities
that each new day brings with pure joy
and wide-eyed amazement. Despite the
sea of trials and challenges that life
deals you, you have a gift for always
maintaining sight of those things that
are truly important in life and the
vision of what could be. I love you
for the person you are, and for the
person that you still aspire to be...
With
Love and Friendship Always-
Happy 43rd Birthday!
Chris
Some photos courtesy
of: Melissa Winker
HIVictorious congratulates
1st place entrant Collin
Burke and 2nd place
winner Kevin Julka!
Above photos from the
awards ceremony at James
Madison Memorial High
School on November 14,
2007! Thank you to ALL
the wonderful teachers,
staff and awesome students
for your participation
in our heartfelt and
passionate undertaking!
Your compassion and
commitment are deeply
appreciated. You are
all winners in our eyes!
Thanks
to the generous support of the Greater Milwaukee
Foundation's
Wisconsin
AIDS Fund and the Johnson and Pabst LGBT
Humanity Fund, "What
if it Were You?" has completed round two!
Our fight and mine are far
from over! I can’t thank those of you enough
who helped me ring in another year in fine
