Life goes on,dreams come true.

I left my hometown, Van Wert, Ohio in Feb 1969. My then husband and I moved just 30 miles away to be closer to work. I never wanted to leave. I resented him for it. In 1974, I got a wild hair, left him and ran away to the big city lights of Cincinnati. No more watching corn and beans grow.

I was homesick. I was blessed with a career, art deco apartments, a Queen Anne 1900s mansion, a gorgeous 57 acre Kentucky property, retirement, two marriages, one divorce and the death of the last husband who deceitfully infected me (insert theme to All My Bastards here). And,an AIDS diagnosis (1989). This all in 41 years. I nearly died of PCP in 1995. I am spent.

I sold my Kentucky tobacco farm for a handsome sum and finally came full circle. I'm back in Van Wert. A hot tub in my heated two car garage sitting next to my little two bedroom doll house. A stark change from the times I lived in abject poverty in Newport ,KY. The ghetto was my PhD in life.

My numbers crashed shortly after my move. A stark reminder of the dying years. The days of slim pickings at the grocery, ramen noodles and grilled cheese are behind me. The ball and chain of AIDS remains along with the lonely nights and a single wine glass on the table.

I am hoping the huge drop in my numbers is just from the stress of my recent life event. I will continue to be an activist for those in rural areas. The only way to conquer the ignorance of the stigma is to step up and let them see us. I showed my face three years ago on world AIDS Day. I don't regret it. The support was amazing and heart warming. Hiding is painful. It's compared to being shoved into a quart jar and you need to pee. Go out. Come out. It's about you. Not anyone else.

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for the dream of finally coming home. I shall sup with my family, old school friendsand praise God for my HIV family.

God bless.