Without question, 2009 is a year we would like to put behind us. Not much during the course of it has not been a struggle. Oh, the taxing world of English antiques and the daily fisticuffs in the design industry. That said, we are still here, a bit older- perhaps Keith quite a bit older…
Focusing on the business of the day yesterday, I was caught up short, when, complaining that I had to interrupt whatever it was I was doing, doubtless something of great moment that I now cannot remember, to sign our holiday greeting cards. What gave me real pause, however, is our printed inscription, that in lieu of gifts to our friends, clients, and trading partners, we provide a donation to All About Care.
The cocktail of drugs that has allowed some management of HIV only occludes the fact that the disease is still horribly with us and has a broader impact on families coping with the illness of a parent or child. All About Care provides outreach for this purpose entirely, with Camp Care for nearly 20 years now providing an annual retreat and spiritual respite for those whose lives continue to be disrupted.
I admire people who have patience and tenacity, and one of those who I have admired the longest is Cynthia Karraker, whose own personal response to HIV was to found All About Care and serve as its director ever since. Her vision has seen beyond the immediate and individually personal consequences of the disease, with her outreach to those whose battles are auxiliary to those primarily afflicted- and it is these, women and children, whose plight is frequently ignored.
While we slog through to the end of the year, it is easy for me to wrap myself up in my own vicissitudes and fail to count my blessings. And, frankly, they are manifold. Between ourselves, my blessings include my relationship with Keith, despite his growing older as I write this. Consequently, I am humbled by the opportunity to extend a small portion of our blessings to All About Care.