8/19 ~ Sarah House

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Pictorial Tour)
Post #61: 
The first two pictures are from Sarah House, and the last two are from The Ivanhoe Inn, Santa Barbara. (Starting with excerpts from AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM STORY)

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Picture #149

 

[Having missed Iron Butterfly’s concert by several days, we went right to work when rolling into Santa Barbara. We met Ron and Michael, real people living at Sarah House, a 2nd residential home for persons living with AIDS. Their slogan, “Once an empty lot, now a whole lot more,” speaks volumes to the needs of this community being met. In addition to standard fare (private rooms with combined living areas), Sarah House highlighted several apartment complexes for mates and families wanting more independent living arrangements within a protected and supportive environment. This was where we met Ron and Michael, two of the sweetest, loving young men you’d ever hope to find in a couple. Ron suffered with HIV; Michael had full blown AIDS. Both lost their careers, futures, financial security and, worse, their family support systems due to the disease. To keep active, Michael helped make his own piece of the national AIDS quilt. In a huddle, we prayed for Michael’s comfort and Ron’s strength.] (Picture from August 19,1995)
— with Staffer, Sarah House, Michael Pulizzano, Sarah House and Ron Hart, Sarah House

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Picture #149b

  

While Michael made his own piece of the quilt, his partner, Ron refurbished the chair Michael loved so much. [ (By the time we returned to New York two weeks later, l was informed of Michael’s passing. In mourning, Ron had taken a turn for the worse.) Profound is the only way to describe the loss I witnessed all across America. ] (Picture from August 19, 1995)

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Picture #139

After a day of biking and touring Sarah House, and having an opportunity to meet and tell the stories of Ron and Michael, Carl and I spent a quiet evening at this quaint bed & breakfast, call Ivanhoe Inn, courtesy of the owner. Here is a picture of Carl Lebman, resting on the steps, watching over the Dream Machine. (Picture and pamphlet from August 19,1995)
— with Jim's Dream Machine and Lebman Carl

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Picture #150

With permission, on our way out of Ivanhoe Inn, I stopped to pick an orange from a tree near the garden. I sat on the porch, and dug out (this poem, written down for me, summer of 1995), by another friend made along the way.