What a great story. I guess our friends from down under are really on top of
life.  Thanks for sharing the tail.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Greene <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, January 10, 1998 6:18 PM
Subject: Ghosts and visibility


>What follows is a longish personal anecdote with some relevence to
>PD.
>
>I went on a "Ghost Walk" on Friday night.
>
>In this instance a Ghost Walk is a 5 km trail in the Darling ranges
>just west of Perth.  It follows part of the route used 100 -130
>years ago to bring felled timber from "the hills" down to the
>Channing river to be barged to Fremantle and then shipped to the
>world. The GW, organized by the local council, entails walking
>through the cool of a moonlit summer night, and meeting the ghosts of
>real people from 100 yrs ago.  The "ghosts" were played by council
>staff and members of the Heritage Society.  As we encountered them
>along the trail they brought the past to life with anecdotes about
>'their' troubles and triumphs, the things they did, the things done
>to them.
>
>It was a magical night, made more so by an unexpected encounter with
>a ghost from my own past.  To put that in perspective I'd better
>explain one or two things.
>
>First - the trail is down a steep escarpment.  Second - whilst most
>of the 5 kms is along a well made gravel road, parts of it involve
>very steep, narrow paths with uneven
>going under foot.  It's not really a place for a PWP in "off" mode,
>though well within the capabilities of this one in "on" mode. Third -
>the walk, including being bused to the start point, was scheduled
>from 7 pm - 10 pm, a time when I often get little value from my meds.
> Fourth - I'm a gambler (but not, in this case, a stupid one; I
>explained my situation to the organisors, who happily agreed that I
>could wait with a "ghost" for transport, should the going prove too
>tough). Fifth - before PD robbed me of my balance, I used to train in
>these hills with the SES (State Emergancy Service) a volunteer search
>and rescue organisation.
>
>Back to the night in question. By forgoing my evening meal I arrived
>at the rendevous point in "on" mode. As we approached the gathering
>of 'ghost hunters', I was surprised and happy to see that amoung them
>were 3 or 4 members of my old SES unit. As the last time I had seen
>most of them was at a reunion in late '96, comments were passed on
>how much better I was walking since my pallidotomy (in April '97).
>
>The walk commenced with my 'on' firmly establised. Our group of 20
>walkers mixed and mingled and soon I lost immediate contact with my
>wife and daughters as we explored the past.   An hour into the walk I
>found myself slowing down and tending to fall behind. This,
>fortunately did not affect the main group as I was able to catch up
>during the meetings with the ghosts.  As the distance grew longer
>between me and the group I became aware that the "ghosts" of my own
>past were also out that night for I was never left alone. Always with
>me was one or other of my friends from SES days.  Not once was I made
>to feel that I was a burden;  not once did anyone suggest I stop; not
>once did anyone offer to actively assist me, even when towards the
>end I was walking on willpower alone.  They treated me exactly right
>and proved to me that to those with eyes to see we are still visible,
>still important, and still very much part of the present.
>
>(BTW, my family had not abandoned me. All through the evening they
>periodically touched base with me.)
>
>Dennis.
>
>*************************************************
>Dennis Greene 48/10
>[log in to unmask]
>http://members.networx.net.au/~dennisg/
>**************************************************
>
>