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Thanks to all who have shared their stories. I am still searching for my new PD self(just dx 6 months ago), but I know it includes a new appreciation for life. And these stories are full of inspiration! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carole Hercun" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 10:12 AM Subject: Re: pd-does it destroy your life?/A Chance to Chase Dreams > Joan, you are so eloquent you had me in tears, and I > haven't even had my AM coffee yet, just enough > Sinemet-fortunately, it works for me, most of the time-to > turn my morning claws into hands that can work the > keyboard. I have been reading this debate re: victimization > by PD with interest. > This is my experience. Most mornings I wake up cursing this > illness that is fighting me for control of my own body. > Odds are PD will win. I pray it does not also covet my > mind. I read about people with PD who are hailed as heroes > and think that all I ever wanted was an ordinary life, and > for every famous PWP there are hundreds of us who silently > struggle to do something simple, like put on our socks. It > is damned hard to have this disease. > Whatever the reason, I have Parkinson's. I am no longer > ordinary. Over this I have no control. It has spun me > around and turned my world upside-down and forever changed > a life I did not ask to be altered. When the dust settled > after my diagnosis, I decided I damned well better start > "chasing my dream," while I still had some functioning > brain cells left. > With a desperate sense of urgency that I set out to do > that. My childhood dream was to be a writer, so at the age > of 50 I started to write. I am a two-fingered typist who > works at a snail's pace (and that was BEFORE the PD slowed > me dofinishedhave fnished 2 books since then. My first > earned me so little I chose to frame the royalty check > rather than cash it, and the second is about to begin the > series of form rejection letters of today's multi-media > publishing conglomerates. > Joan is right, IT DOESN'T MATTER. Because I finally > followed my dream and the truth is, I have this damned > disease to thank. When I have a bad day I look at my book > and know that when I leave this earth I will leave > something of myself behind for my granddaughters. > My advice is to listen to Joan and Jane and the others. > Chase that dream. Do whatever it is that you always wanted > to do. Use the disease to enable yourself. Paint a picture, > get on a plane, become a Parkinson's activist, share your > experiences with a PIEN newbie, educate that annoyed > cashier who is watching you fumble for change. As a much > better writer than I said, "rage against the dying of the > light." Parkinson's disease has your body. Don't let it > have your soul. > Carole S. Hercun > 56(current age)/51(age at diagnosis)/?38(age of probable > onset) > > --- Joan E Snyder <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > i can only speak from my own perspective and my own > > experience > .....it > > doesn't really matter. > > so please, when the final days come-do not cry for me. i > > have had a > > chance to try to do something meaningful and good in my > > life; a chance > > to chase my dreams. how many healthy people can say > > that?? > > > > -- > > Joan E. Blessington Snyder 50/11 > > http://www.pwnkle.com/jes/jes_web/index.htm > > <[log in to unmask]> > > "Hang tough...........no way through it but to do it." > > Chris-in-the-Morning (Northern Exposure) > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos > http://launch.yahoo.com/u2 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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