-----Original Message-----
From: Giles <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, November 14, 1998 8:32 PM
Subject: Society does not care....


>I grew up in a wheelchair in the 60's.
>One thing I learned very quickly is that society and the world in genral
>does not care about individuals. It is not picking on me because I'm in
>a chair. It owes me nothing because society may have done something that
>gave me a messed up wad of genetiic material. It was not going to make
>any allowances because I was different. If anything, it wa going to
>target me for early trip to oblivion much as a lion singles out the sick
>animal in a herd. I descided that the only way to make it in this social
>
>jungle was to look that lion in the navel and spit. Then if the bluff
>didn't work, pat him on the head before before he bit me. The surprise
>would probably kill him.
>So I've gone pretty much where I wanted  and done pretty much what I
>wanted. I've taken advantage of luck when it happened and made my own
>way when it didn't. A lot of people helped me get as far as I've come
>knowing they didn't owe me anything. I accepted thier help with thanks
>in the same spirit.
>Now I have PD. Nothing has changed. Society Still owes me zip and cares
>even less. I help others when and where I can in the hopes they will do
>the same for someone less fortunate than I. My wife and I are well aware
>that I'm going to get worse. If you are like I am and have no extended
>family with a long history of taking care of thier own. If you you are
>like I and are not indepentantly wealthy. Then at this point in time the
>future looks like an extended stay in a nursing home where nobody gives
>a flying fart.
>I am a realist.
>I also live in the here and now and plan as I can for the future while
>trying not to let it scare me stiff.
>
>Marvin Giles.