You take every life experience
and seem to be fully affected
by it. You allow yourself
to learn, grow, feel and
express. So far you have
called from camp sobbing
with such real tears and
sorrow about the tribute
ceremony for campers-children-who
have died. Then, you call
with a smile so bright and
a pride and joy from achieving
your 'tight rope' adventure.
My point being you take
risk and you're real. I
am so happy for your summer
experience. Especially the
mutual benefits and gifts
you will bring to the campers
and they will surely bring
to you. I am blessed to
know you, to care about
you and to be amazed, impressed
and idolize-in the most
normal sense-you! You must
know you're the source of
my inspiration, my passion
and life's work.
I just wanted to say
thanks for coming and speaking with our class. You just told it how it was and
never hesitated to say anything and I admired that about you. I think that you
related to us well and were able to educate us better then our teacher. You are
brave for being outspoken about HIV and AIDS. I’ve never really had any family
members or friends who have been infected by this disease but I think it will be
easier to talk to them when that situation does come along because you spoke to
us. You definitely are very inspiring and I wish I was as strong as you. I think
everything that you’re doing is wonderful and I hope that you keep speaking and
educating kids because you’re really good at it. Well good luck in life.
~Amber
Good Grief - sounds like
you've been a Busy Bob! I'm
always so happy to hear things
are good for you - but, they
usually are, even when you have
your not-so-sunny days.
Most of anyone's attitude is
in their mindset and they don't
seem to realize that each day
they wake up, that day is a
brand new day for them to do
with whatever they want.
You make the very most of your
time and energy and not only
do you benefit, obviously, from
that, but so many others around
you and who know you absorb
that from you, as well.
Love and Friendship, Jeannie
My dear friend Lora
Wilkinson representin OTP wear!
So here
I am jammin' to get ready for the big interview
and I couldn't help but read your stories. You are
something else. Yup, you had me in tears several
times. YOU put me into perspective with my own medical
challenges. How can I complain about the debilitating
joint disease and degenerative osteoarthritis when
I have friends like you suffering through the anguish
of HIV. How you keep the spirit and delightful sense
of humor is enlightening. You really are a beam
of light and hope. How blessed I am that you and
Shawn are now a significant part of my life and
a driving force for my indefatigable commitment
against HIV/AIDS. How blessed I am that you have
so strongly reinforced my goal of elevating the
care, compassion and hope for our friends with HIV/AIDS.
You personify the entire mission of PEP/LA, PEP/INTERNATIONAL
and all of our PEP "satellites". You are behind
the true passion that motivates Wendy to continue
to fight even if it means living in the bush of
Africa as I did in Zimbabwe and will presumably
do in the dirt of Uganda in January.
"I
can't even begin to put to words what
it is like to be on the other side of
the camera when someone you have grown
to love and care about is puking for
40minutes straight and you can't put
the camera down to rub their back or
get them water...Bob knew I had fought
my own mental, emotional and physical
war so he trusted me and he let me in...I
have grown as a human being in ways
I could have
never imagined in the last three years.
My heart and soul have been ripped wide
open and I am so grateful to the Bowers
for teaching me so much. I hope this
film will not only educate but also
inspire people around the world to look
openly at whatever challenges they face
and to appreciate every day-for life
is a gift."
“At
such moments, you realize that you and the other
are, in fact, one. It's a big realization. Survival
is the second law of life. The first is that we
are all one.”
Thank you for your love and support.
You are and always have been an inspiration
for me. I feel that we both have continuously
been fighting a difficult war and are
finally seeing some results. Keep up
the wonderful work as you make a huge
difference. This world is better with
you in it.
Eric B.
Please take
a moment to visit one of my friends
and Hero's, Eric B's (pictured below)
site. He is a most amazing human being
and I'm proud to know him!
A
note from my friend and mentor, retired Los
Angeles Police Officer Clark Baker, who nicknamed
me Da Pirate. I can't tell you what an incredible
impact Mr. Baker has left on my heart, life
and mission. I am forever grateful to him and
no, not just for the 'nickname':
"Your spirit and
soul constantly remind Carol and I of what is
truly important in life. I suspect that the
rest of your friends feel this as well. It tears
my heart to see the thousands of healthy self-destructive
assholes in the world who make life so miserable
for others when people like you must suffer
so completely. If only we could issue health
to deserving people who wouldn't squander it.
I think I've told you that I loathe religion
and all of it's trappings. I am, however, convinced
of God's existence. I believe that he has something
wonderful in store for you and that, whatever
it is you are enduring, you are doing so for
some great purpose. I'm not certain that you
see it - I'm not sure I would understand it
myself. In any case, whatever purpose you have
in this trial will be made to you one day. I
imagine that you will appreciate Paradise more
than any of us... Yours is a precious life and
I'm grateful for the reminder that each moment
of every day counts...
Clark Baker
PS: Want me to kidnap a kindergartener for breakfast?
Friends Jake Glaser,
Kalee Garland and Da Pirate showin how we survivors
do!
We have a combined 64 years of living
with HIV/AIDS!
Malibu, California-2006
Thank you so much for your inspiration. You are a gift
for being able to spread your positive vibrations like no other.
Next to Bob the great Marley, you are someone amazing. You touch
so many people, never stop!!!
A
note from my friend and mentor, retired Los
Angeles Police Officer Clark Baker, who nicknamed
me Da Pirate. I can't tell you what an incredible
impact Mr. Baker has left on my heart, life
and mission. I am forever grateful to him and
no, not just for the 'nickname':
