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Kathleen, I mean nothing derogatory in what I say. Your intentions are most sincere. However, I must speak for myself for no matter what my illness or my problems, the who of me, the self esteem of me and the self respect of me demands it. Contrary to comment, Janet Reno's present/future mean nothing more to me than a lively, healthy discussion. I feel no emotion, am not shaken by her experiences or her intentions, am not in denial(I tried it. It was fruitless). I do not delude myself about my condition. In fact, I know as much as my medical team so am fully aware of what can and cannot be done for the present. What I have seen is PIEN family interest in PD/politics, personal views, etc. There is camaraderie and opinion sharing the likes of which PIEN hasn't done on such a friendly basis until recently. It's wonderful to see! It's healthy and id redeeming because it involves acceptance! Keep it up everyone. I love it! Neither JR nor MJF are my standard bearers. They are draw names that have the ability and the stature to pull in money for research that many organizations have sat on for years-long before I became ill. I am personally not aware that JR has raised any funds for PD. That doesn't mean she hasn't. Yet, in truth, I have to admit that she appears to be the one who may be in the denial you describe. As far as I'm concerned, and I wrote this in a post several days ago, she has the intellect and ability to do whatever she wants to do with her life. Nevertheless, I do have standard bearers. They're Don and Vivian; George and Juanita; Camilla and her beloved Peter; Michel and his beloved Barbara; Donald and his beloved Kathleen; Ivan Susman; Robert Berger; Joan Hartman; Linda Herman; Bonnie Browley; Supermario; Bonnie Clay Riley; Clay Felts, Rayilyn; Bunny, Murray Kastner; Maryse Schild, and I could go on and on for my address book is full of the EVERYMAN/EVERYWOMAN with or without caretaker whose very efforts at kindness and friendship see us through our every day. They are the ones in whom I have pride and whom I hold dear, for in their hurting and never knowing, they find the time to make sure we have a better day! Who can possibly ask for better standard bearers! In caring and friendship, E of the headdress -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kathleen Cochran Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2002 2:56 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Janet Reno Judging by recent discussion, Janet Reno's fainting spell has shaken us up. Her experience has to hit us viscerally. We - PwPs as a group - tend to operate at a carefully calibrated level of denial: enough to preserve a positive mindset about our condition and get us through, but not so much that we delude ourselves into thinking and acting as if everything is fine, possibly leading us to ignore symptoms and forgo helpful care and treatment. At the same time that we regulate our own attitudes and emotions, we manage the way we present ourselves to others. We hope to be seen as who we are, not just as our disease. We want the world to accept and recognize that even with PD, we are capable, worthwhile people with a lot to offer. Janet Reno and Michael J. Fox, in letting their condition be seen while remaining active and public, seemed to be carrying that standard for all of us. But then Janet Reno faints. And what in another candidate might be assumed to be the flu instantly raises questions about the wisdom and viability of her candidacy, even among us on this list. We ache for her - and for ourselves - and at the same time, we may wonder if she should really be doing this. We may speculate, and maybe hope, that it's a question of adjusting her meds. We may assert that it's her private choice and it's presumptuous to second guess her. Whatever our judgments or conclusions about Janet Reno's candidacy, seeing her weak and vulnerable is bound to unnerve us. It feels as if there are monsters in the closet, and the flashlight batteries are running low. Kathleen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn