“Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time…
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time…
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song
And right me when I’m wrong…”
(with thanks to Paul McCartney)


About 2 weeks ago, my life began to remind me of having a baby-it was
all fine until the hard labor started and then it was too late!! I had
changed my mind about going thru with all of this worry & frustration
but like a runaway train, it was headed on a one way collision course
with destiny! My wonderful dream team and certainly I never thought
during those long winter months of planning that the day would ever
come, but suddenly I was thrilled to see the first carload of folks to
arrive: Wanda from OK & Pammie from AK.

The following days before the event were filled with trips out to the
airport and reunions and meeting new friends and all of the excitement
of last minute details and errands. Everyone, it seemed had a job to do
and then some!! On Friday, I was out at the airport to pick up Nanny &
Toad Turner-my special guests! What a delight to see & to greet them!!
Also on the same flight was John Lester. Each time I have the
opportunity to spend time with him, I feel that our friendship and
mutual admiration just flourishes. He is indeed a kind  & caring man and
we are certainly thrilled to have him in our corner! One more thing
about
John-imagine my shock as he came off the plane to see his lovely, long
hair shaved!! WOW!!

On Friday evening, it was the calm before the storm, we all gathered at
3 Sisters Park & were delighted by the cool breeze that came pouring
thru the open garage doors. The place was beautifully decorated by lots
of the PLWP’s and Dumpster Gang members who had been arriving constantly
and by the members of my Dream Team! The place looked lovely in
navy blue and gold with pots of tulips, so we gathered to enjoy each
other’s company, to eat dinner and to welcome my cousin with her hot air
balloon-what another treat!! We tried to get to bed early that night but
my other house guests: AJ Campbell and Greg Wasson were lost
and didn’t get in until 12:30. John & I tried to stay up and wait for
them but we both fell asleep watching an old movie about giant
scorpions!!!

The day of the event dawned hot, sunny & with a threat of
thunderstorms….but fortunately they never materialized. When we arrived
at the golf course, I was so gratified to find that the
course was crowded with golfers-all laughing , eating and getting
registered. I’m going to mention just several of the 80+ participants to
show the variety of people who came from near and far to join us in our
cause. Carol Walton, the executive director of the Parkinson
Alliance, Robin Elliot, the executive director of the Parkinson’s
Disease Foundation (who played golf with my husband Stan, our daughter
Allison and Mike Koontz from the Dumpster Gang chatroom), my brother
Jeff Blessington played with the son of my dear friend Caz. There was
also a team made up of Dave Purdey, (the winner of the 2000 Sidney
Dorros Award) who played with Carl McCloed (Pwinkle’s husband),
Ron Hager (Pattiaz’s husband) and M.E. Ross (JJJaner’s husband) along
with the usual mix of radio and tv personalities and writers-this was
not “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas” but a good time was had by all. There
were prizes galore! I would like to thank Gene Petty, Roger McChristian,
Bill Woolard, the Peoria Park District, the staff of Donovan golf
course, Steve Tippett and the North Side Rotary members for all of their
tireless effort to pull this off with such grace and style and all of
the golfers who participated and made the day so memorable!

Then on to Three Sisters Park where things were already starting to heat
up-in more ways than one! There were tons of volunteers out at the park
getting everything ready for the festivities and I cannot tell you how
much I appreciate the gift of so many people’s time and talent!! The
welcome table looked lovely with all of the photo albums, copies of the
book: Voices From The Parking Lot  for sale , the  guest book and the
beautifully made unity ribbons . The volunteer table was manned and all
set to go! The portion of the Art Exhibit was quite powerful and
attracted lots of attention…and I cannot say enough about the tremendous
job done by  Caz & crew to show off the auction items to their best
advantage and for keeping it running throughout the day. Over $2,000 was
raised by the auction with money still coming in.

The entertainers were exceptional-what more can be said?? Although the
rain never materialized, the heat and the humidity were almost
overwhelming!! Yet still they kept on keeping on like the true
professionals they are.

I must also mention the speakers and thank them for coming in spite of
the heat: Congressman Lane Evans took the time to talk to us all and he
even held my hand on stage to help me quit shaking! Gina Morss, Greg
Serangelli, Carol Walton, Robin Elliott, Brenda Tucker and Nancy “Lynn”
Abraham, John Lester, Mayor Don White, State Representative Dave Leitch,
Sheriff Chuck Schofield and Michael Bryant-all were thought provoking
and wonderful. The sheriff told a story about how I contacted him-on a
Saturday afternoon, interrupting his favorite tv program and I had said:
please don’t hang up, I’m not drunk or stupid!!

There was a bocce ball tournament that raised almost $200 and was run by
friends. The entire town rallied behind us in our effort and I cannot
begin to thank everyone who lent a hand or donated of their time, talent
or gifts. The sponsor board is overwhelming and I thank you  from the
bottom of my heart. I especially want to thank the members of my “Dream
Team” for all their work and effort. Butch Duffy, Don White, Jeannine
McAllister, Steve & Tina Tippett, Gene Petty, Roger McChristian, Lynn
Truitt, Holly Angus and my dear husband, Stan. I love you all.

But the true heroes of this day were the folks with Parkinson’s who
traveled from near and far to share, to support and to lend a hand…once
again, my thanks and my love!!

On Sunday, PLWP presented a wonderfully informative symposium, “Patients
As Providers.” Eighty-five people with PD came to this forum and were
able to participate in the spirited  conversation that followed talks by
Dr. Phillip Jobe, Dr. Rick Weber & Dr. Jai Cumar. This pointed out that
more of these kinds of efforts to bring together patients, clinical
neurologists and research scientists are important and necessary.

And if this were not enough-some of the PWP’s stayed long enough to
paint and to lend a helping hand to make a house handicapped accessible
for my friend Theresa who was paralyzed in a sledding accident in
February.

As you can see, this has been a wonderful experience for all whom I have
been blessed to have as my guests. I am overwhelmed, exhilarated,
humbled and beyond exhaustion…but, oh what a time we all had!!


--
Joan E. Blessington Snyder     49/11
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"Hang tough............no way through it but to do it."
    Chris-in-the-Morning  (Northern Exposure)

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