Today on World Aids day I would like to highlight my father Victor Pittman.  Fall 1982 was when I became aware of AIDS, my father, the father that I’d known my entire life father of 7, 4 biological and three-step was married to a transgender and diagnosed with AIDS.  My father Victor is what we called him had a dark past that included but not limited to substance abuse, Mental Illness, Domestic violence, and Homosexuality which was not an acceptable behavior at that time.  My Grandparents never turned their son away and allowed his partner into the family and never gave him any shade.  Victor lived a very long time suffering from HIV-related illnesses, He took his last breath alone in a hospital in Staten Island, New York.  My last visit with him was my last words but he did give my children words of wisdom.  He told his story without telling his story, he told them don’t bother anyone or anything.  Basically, he has hurt a a lot of people in various ways and his end result was a lot of suffering and disappointing his loving parents that gave him there all, even picking up his slack as a father.   I only have good memories but the results of the information given have soured those good memories.  Although many years have passed I still would like to share that my father fought a long fight when people were dropping quickly once diagnosed at that time. 

In Memory of Victor Pittman January 22, 1943 -March 9, 2002

Coming up at the height of the Crack era many of us have stories that should be told if possible.  Share some of your memories in an effort to help someone else know its ok, we survived. Good memories are Good memories although the circumstances.

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