Sorry it has taken me so long to tackle a new column, this one has been particularly hard to pen. The subject matter kept changing. First, I wanted to write about certain emotions that I feel are a waste of time. Then I decided with the elections coming up, that I should make it about politics. After all, it would have only been fair, since our president decided to make us an issue of his campaign. Then a tragic automobile accident happened, and a member of our gay community passed away. Estellas' services were beautiful and I was amazed at the numbers that turned out to pay their respects. So...I was going to switch gears and talk about how small our gay community seems and how it comes together when needed, and it really is grand.

Then, on October 24th my dear sweet friend Sylvia lost her battle with cancer. I am truly at a loss for words. The week before her passing, I was fortunate enough that her family allowed me and another friend to have a few moments with her. I hadn't seen her since June and was delighted when I walked in her hospital room and she said with as much enthusiasm as her frail body could muster, "Melissa!". Her family was in the room and was generous enough to say, "We're gonna give you guys a few minutes" and left us. We exchanged small talk and I teased Sylvia about stealing her little dog, Bella. Well, she would have none of that and protested with vigor..."No you won't!"

Soon she fell asleep, and I watched her labor for breath. Her lungs were full a fluid, as she was suffering with pneumonia. I was brought to tears as Jennifer rubbed her arm, kissed her hand, and smoothed her hair. I watched, and I cried. I cried, you see because I am not a religious person, and yet I know God was at work in that room. He was at work because that room was full of angels. Jennifer was an angel for Sylvia. Sylvias' mom was an angel. Her sisters were angels. They were angels because they were there. They were watching, waiting, and wishing...

I wasn't able to attend her Rosary, but I heard it was standing room only. I did get to go to the church service and was blown away. People came from near and far...most dressed in black with an accent of pink. Sylvia would have been proud. There must have been two or three hundred people there, and they were all angels. They were angels because they were there. They were watching, and they were wishing. It occurred to me that if all these people were angels for Sylvia, then she must have been an angel for them. She must have been an angel for two to three hundred people.

As I see it, if she were the kind of angel that can affect hundreds of people while she walked on earth, imagine the number of people she can affect now that she has wings.

By the way, if your are interested in reading or writing a tribute to Sylvia, you can go to caller.com. Click on obits.

Your comments and thoughts can be sent to melissa@gaycorpuschristi.com.