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Dear Emily, from where I stand: Thank you for sharing. All of us, Caregivers, PDers, PD+ers and those of us who remain undiagnosed and who are under the PD umbrella need something on which to fasten our lifelines. Each of us lives high on his/her own mountain close to a life-defying precipice. Although we are related, we cannot share accommodations because the bus driver who placed us where we are had one last assignment. Instead of designer jeans, we were awarded a designer chronic illness which I call "the shadow within me". On the whole, our meds are different, our symptoms though often similar don't manifest at the same time under the same circumstances. Identified stages occur in some at a very early age/stage or in others over long periods of time. Each day is like experiencing the prize at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box. We never know what we're going to find! Somehow, some way, we have to fool that "shadow within". Whether it be through the love, care and devotion of a blessed caretaker or the determination of self, each of us must discover his/her own path. This path may lead to religion, to the sea, even to the lush forests that may be close by or a childhood memory, even to a little-know headdress. It may be comfort from classical or modern music or it may be the laughter caused by a SPARKLEl joke. It may be anything we choose that wipes away anger or tears . It may be anything that even momentarily melts ever-growing fear. Then, having done this for ourselves, we are bound by common need to share with others what we have learned. No man/woman or child should ever walk alone with "the shadow within". There is for each of us an extended hand, and we must let everyone know that extended hand belongs to us! E of the headdress ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn