oh, ho the holidays

This Christmas was a success. I'm looking forward to this week for my new iMac. It's taking all I have not to piddle my pants in excitement. I'll be one of the happiest little girls. I also got an air compressor for Jeffrey, my car, I so badly needed and a set of murderous knives...mwuahahaha!! Just kidding, they're for kitchen use only...so you better steer clear of the kitchen if you want to keep your life! Just kidding again. Anyway, we've been using these terrible steak knives for cutting everything that butter knives can't conquer. It'll be nice to have a sharp blade to slice with.
My sister made me this brilliant practically life size doll. It's creepily adorable, and I had to laugh admiringly when I pulled her from the box so I wouldn't cry my delite. I'll try to get a picture of her on here. She has already frightened me twice since I left her sitting on the couch, and I came home opening my door to what I first percieved as an unexpected presence. It's a great creation, and I was quite impressed with my little, but as tall as me, sister. She is full of mystery, that girl. I think she will grow up into greatness, maybe conquer a couple cities or live in the jungle somewhere.
This is the longest I've gone without seeing Brandon. In total it will have been about a month. I haven't had to separate from someone I'm so fond of since I dated Ryan. It's a strange feeling. It's like temporarily losing your keys. At first it feels worse than it really is, like you'll never find them again. Then you realize that you used to live your life without a car, and it's not so bad getting around without it, but you miss it. Then one distant day they pop back into your life when you clean the closet and realize the dog had added them to his secret prohibited items to chew stash. Oh there's that shoe, too! So now you have it all back again, you lucky girl.
I got my haircut today. I haven't had bangs like these since I was small, it's funny to see them on grown up Pearl. Yes, that's right, grown up. This grown up also got her internet bill today, boo. And now I'm back in San Marcos. It seems I may be the only one saying that, too. That's alright, I welcome alone time after a week with the family. I need to touch up some things on Cameron's picture and I do have work tomorrow morning. Other than that I have no obligations, that's a strange feeling too. I better take advantage of it since it won't last long.

World AIDS Day

I feel lucky to be alive during this day and age. Change rises with the sun each morning, and every day seems brighter than the one before. Though we have not found cures for many diseases, those days wait on the horizon. We have made great strides since our first, and one can bet that we will not waver off this path of discovery. New days bring death, but they also bring new life. With new life we see the coming of a new age, an age that may bring the conclusion to AIDS and the like.

Not too long ago AIDS was relatively new to the mass public, and misunderstood. Many people looked at those bearing the burden as freaks, outcasts, infected beings. Most would not speak to them, would not share the same space, would not recognize them as humans. But above the masses were a few understanding persons who embraced this exiled group and welcomed them into friendship.

As a child, like every child, I was a handful. A handful of mischief, mess, and make believe. And as a mother, my mom was a busy woman running her own business and traveling to meet with clients. My dad, also a busy man with his own business, worked hard carving stone mantles, columns, and balusters. With two busy parents, one can see the relief a babysitter would bring from time to time. My mother had many friends, and insisted that one in particular look after me while she and Dad were away. Some of her colleagues gasped and argued that she was endangering her child. The man she had chosen was indeed a victim of AIDS. Other women claimed they would never consider his company for their children, too dear to be put into those infected hands. But my mother has always been intelligent and a free thinker. She ignored the unfriendly banter and handed me over. The feeling of welcome overcast the usual sickness he felt that day, and he thanked her for her trust. This small task meant more to him than a healthy person could ever know. My mom saw past his illness and looked at who he really was, a human no different than you or me. No one should be defined by their abnormalities, and we are all responsible for helping everyone along through their times of suffering, and most importantly ensuring they have uncountable times of happiness.

Many unfortunate things happen during the billions of lives that inhabit this earth. But no matter the infliction, one must always know that they are still part of humanity. To overcome AIDS and other diseases we must understand them, but to understand, we cannot fear.