In a message dated 09/02/2007 07:01:16 GMT Standard Time,  [log in to unmask] 
writes:

Nina

I think if I played bridge again my synapses would explode,  it is such an
intellectually exciting activity.  It wasn't worth  becoming more symptomatic
when I last played.  It is interestiing  how  this disease affects us - even
if I could play the piano again,  the emotional aspect would be too much for
me.  Of course, I don't  take PD meds.  Sitting quietly on a walker holding a
sign for an hour  and a half is something I can do, although I'm sure it
would not appeal to  most people.
Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nina P. Brown"  <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent:  Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:37 PM
Subject: Re: the  game


Ray,
Where there is a will, there is a way....
I play  bridge once a week and the others don't mind shuffling the
cards for me  when the game is not at my house (I have a card
shuffler) and they make  this neat little round card holders that you
can stick the cards  into.  Luckily I play with some ladies that are
very compassionate and  don't mind helping me...just find those who
will be helpful and have some  fun!

Life is short...
nina

On Jan 30, 2007, at 10:27 AM,  rayilynlee wrote:

> Nina
> I like the analogy of life being a  card game.   I was a good bridge
> player,
> but in the  beginning of PD I shook more if I got a good hand.  Now  I
>  can't
> hold the  cards, shuffle or deal.  I quit playing  several years  ago, so I
> don't know if my tremors would break  through the neurostimulators  or not.
> But it is true, having PD  is being dealt a hand with very few high  cards.
> But there are  worse diseases.
> Ray
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:  "Nina P. Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
> To:  <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007  11:43 PM
> Subject: Re: Question from a "lurker"
>
>
>  When I was diagnosed twenty one years ago my neurologist said with
> all  the research being done and the new drugs, that if I had to have
> a  neurological disease, Parkinson’s was the one to have.  Am I  lucky
> or what?  I’ve bought raffle tickets, played bingo, entered  all kinds
> of contests and have never won anything; but for some  unknown reason
> my ticket to join the Parkinson Parade was  picked.  And it changed my
> life!
> For some reason, when I  am asked “How Parkinson’s has affected my
> life, I seem to have a  problem coming up with a quick answer.  I
> tried to figure out why  that should be such a hard question for
> someone who has lived with  Parkinson’s and worked for the Parkinson’s
> community for 21  years.
> Over the years my symptoms have multiplied and worsened.   Because
> there is not a day that goes by that allows me to forget I  have
> Parkinson’s, I often reflect on a story that makes me smile  and
> reminds me of the difference in being a pessimist or an  optimist.
> A young boy, placed in a room filled full with toys, sat in  the
> middle of the room without touching one of them.  There were  so many
> he couldn’t decide which to play with.  A second little  boy was
> placed in a room full of horse manure.  He dove in and  tossed it one
> way, then another.  After about an hour, as he was  dragged from the
> room, he was heard crying, “Wait…with all that horse  manure, there
> must be a pony in there somewhere!”  My way of  living with a body
> that reminds me every three hours to take  medications is to keep
> looking for the pony.
> Because  Parkinson’s is usually described as “progressive,”
> “debilitating” and  “incurable” I know the problems I face today will
> seem inconsequential  tomorrow, but I refuse to feel “debilitated.”  I
> prefer not to  dwell upon the negatives that make my life difficult,
> but rather upon  the positives that make my life full.
>   ·    While  taking medication every two hours may force me to live
> by the clock,  I’m grateful I live in a time when there are
> medications  available.  Without the chemical camouflage from the
> cocktail of  medications I take, I wouldn’t be able to walk at all.
> ·     Although my symptoms first forced me to give up tennis and
> skiing and  then later, give up my walker for a scooter when the
> medications don’t  work, I am, nonetheless grateful to have the  mobility.
> ·   Although I hate seeing a photo or video of myself with my body
>  contorted or moving abnormally, at least it opens an opportunity to
>  educate someone about Parkinson’s.
> ·    Although I’m afraid  I’ll lose my balance and fall when I lean
> over for a hug, I love that  someone wants to give me a hug.
>  I could go on, but you get the  idea.  I guess you could say that
> Parkinson’s has brought facets  to my life that I never could have
> foreseen– while it has done a lot  to me, it’s done a lot for me.
> There is no doubt that Parkinson’s has  changed my life.  It would be
> foolish of me to say I’m lucky that  I have an incurable, progressive,
> degenerative disease, but…
>  ·Without Parkinson’s, I wouldn’t write HAPS monthly newsletter for
>  2300, which has given me a personal way to reach out and touch
>  thousands and in return, so many have reached back and touched me.
>  Without Parkinson’s, I would have missed the opportunity of meeting
>  some of the most courageous, inspiring, amazing people I know.
> Without  Parkinson’s, I would never have had the PASSION or
> opportunity to  fight for and represent the Parkinson community with
> legislators in  Austin and Washington, or help co-found two
> organizations involved  with medical research that give the hope of
> removing the word  “incurable” from the description of Parkinson’s.
> And with Parkinson’s,  the love and devotion that Joe, my husband of
> forty-four years, and I  have shared has become even greater because
> of our commitment to fight  the fight and work toward that common goal.
> Life is similar to a game  of cards.  We have no control over the hand
> dealt us.   However, we do have control over the way we play the
> hand.   There's no point in blaming the dealer for a bad hand.  The
> trick  is to play it out with all the skill and determination we
>  possess.  I’m not smart enough to find a cure for this disease, but  I
> am determined to do my best to make it possible for some  researcher
> somewhere to find a cure.
> In short, I decided that  if I have to ride in the Parade, I’d prefer
> to do it on a  pony!
>
>
>
> On Jan 8, 2007, at 10:26 AM, Dick  Beaumont wrote:
>
>> You said "Parkinson's Disease Is a Curse  and a Blessing by Kate
>> Kelsall"
>> in your message that  was posted on January 06, 2007 and presented on
>> this list by  rayilynlee (sorry, I don't know your last name) on Sat
>>  06/01/2007.
>>
>> I mentioned that I am a "lurker" since I  do not normally respond  to  any
>> messages, I just read  them. My knowledge of this disease has been
>> attained by internet  research and this list. I was diagnosed as  having
>> PD in  February of 2005, just about two years ago. Fortunately, my   PD  is
>> slowly progressing and my depression seems to be corrected. I  live in
>> Keswick Ontario and work as a technical writer in Richmond  Hill.  At 67
>> years young, married to a wonderful woman  (Helene) and employed doing
>> the work I love, I did not know what  my sentence meant to me and my
>> future (and still not  sure).
>>
>> Question - What is the URL (address) of your  Blog. I was moved by  your
>> observations and wish to read  more.
>>
>> Dick Beaumont
>>
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Get a chess computer and play against that - should keep a few neurons  
humming ! 
Some are quite cheap - and don't get upset if sworn at  :)

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