The Power of

Friendship!

The holidays have come and gone. A new year has started and I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the past few weeks on how my life has changed in the past couple of years.

 

One of the things that I have been thinking about a lot is this year’s World Aids Day.

Here at Peter and Paul, we tied tags with the names of family or friends that we have lost to red balloons and set them free in the parking lot.

As they sailed away, I thought of the names I had written down. I know that they are not really gone, but always with me in my heart and thoughts.

In January 2004 I moved to Saint Louis to start a new chapter in my life. 

In July I became homeless, something else I thought would never happen to me.

Through jealousy, pettiness, and someone not taking there meds, I was forced out of the business I helped start and lost the home I shared with my business partners/roommates.

Thanks to the Positive Directions program at Peter & Paul, both my mental and physical health has greatly improved. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for me. In fact, I’ve met and found a best friend.  His name is Joe.

Joe reached out to me at one of the darkest times in my life and became my friend.

We have shared many laughs and tears together and it will be a friendship that will last a lifetime.

My name is Alan Burkey.  I am a healthy HIV positive man. 

 

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