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Hello Marjorie, this was a wonderful Poem. Gisela 42/7 ----- Original Message ----- From: Marjorie L. Moorefield <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 4:35 AM Subject: Poem > I wrote this poem in May 1996, just before my colon ruptured. > There is nothing quite like having to have emergency surgery > in the middle of the night , and then spending the Summer > in a nursing home, to make you realize that life really is worth > the struggle!!! > > > > HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FLY? > > They all asked---What's it like to fly by yourself? > Are you scared? > How can you tell how far you have flown? > Aren't you afraid of getting lost? > > Now the Children ask, are you afraid when you fall? > What do you think about when you know you are falling? > > Without flying, I can't imagine how to describe my affliction. > Little did I realize then, the first lesson learned would > describe Parkinson's Balance Problems so completely. > In my head, somehow, the gyro is not caged. > > I remember well the exhilarating feeling of overcoming gravity and > "lifting-off" > That same feeling also describes the first dose of Sinemet. > Now I "lift-off" without a plane, but there are no more winning "Spot > Landing Contests". > > Now I use that short prayer all pilots are taught > --you know--the one you utter quickly, when all else fails? > Only now, for some strange reason, I quickly pray not to ruin my new pantyhose, > that my skirt will cover my unbralicas, and that nothing serious is broken!! > For one fleeting moment, my memory is stirred , the movement disorder > and flying are soul mates. > One day I'll be placed in a wheelchair, just for my own protection, they'll > say. > At that time I'm going to withdraw into the deep ,dark, recesses of my mind > and sit in a corner, all alone. > I want to remember that ONCE, sometime, someplace, somewhere > my spirit flew free!!!!! > At that time I will question all of humanity, God and the Hippocratic Oath. > After a time I'll quit feeling sorry for myself, wheel out and purchase > a whizzer motor for my wheelchair!!! > Then, and only then, will I honestly be able to answer the question > "HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FLY"?? > > > -------------- Author's Notes -------------- > I earned my Single-Engine Land Pilots License in 1965. > In 1988, a Patron in the Library where I work as a Humanities > Reference Librarian, in trying to be kind, > thought I was going to stand up. I had just leaned forward, > but she had removed the chair. I fell to the floor and broke > my tailbone off from the spine and hit the back of my head > on a chair. Within 6 months I was having night seizures. > Now I suffer from Cerebellar Degeneration and Parkinson's. > I still work full-time as a librarian, you know, "the white-haired > one who can find ANYTHING, but has a tendency to fall. > > As Ever, > Marjorie Moorefield > just another librarian > (with PD) May 1996 > > UPDATE: > I retired on December 31,1999 > I use a crutch and an AFO and I don't > fall as much as I did. I think the crutch > really helps with my balance. >