This week, the figures have been on the radio, on TV and in the newspapers.
40,000,000 people have HIV/AIDS. 2,300,000 of them are children.
It’s expected that 3,000,000 people will die of AIDS this year, and half a milllion of them will be children.
More than 25,000,000 people have died from AIDS since 1981.
Of the 6.5 million people in developing countries who are infected with HIV/AIDS, only one million of them are receiving life prolonging drugs.
More than 6,000 young people (ages 15-24) become infected world wide every day.
There are more than 1.2 million people in North America living with HIV/AIDS.
The statistics are chilling, especially those dealing with children.

I was talking with Dear Husband about something that has been taking place when we host my family at major holidays. My sisters, and their adult daughters bring “bread and butter” gifts. There’s nothing wrong with bread and butter gifts, but it seems as though the cost of these gifts has been rising steadily over the years.
Where someone might have brought a jar of something they had canned, or a candle, or a pot holder, now the gifts are getting up scale. At Thanksgiving, I received a beautiful bowl painted with a country style pumpkin design, a chocolate dipping pot, a jar of gourmet chocolate and two pound cakes, a pot with three of the most gorgeous poinsettias, and a gift basket with five or six items for Mexican appetizers and hot chocolate. And, my niece who was in an accident sent the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen.
Has there been an announcement I missed that has stepped up the gift giving?
I routinely take gifts to my hostess. I’m sure there have been times when I missed, but generally, I try to show my appreciation for having been invited with a small gift. I’m concerned about this increase in the size or quality of the gift. Is this just a reflection of our stage of life, where we can afford to give more?
Dear Husband suggested that my family was just trying to show me how much they enjoy celebrating at our house. He went a step further and said that perhaps they were showing their love for me. How can I argue with that??
So…I guess I’m going to have to do a better job of shopping before we go visiting.