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For several years now I have been co-editor (with Carol McLeod) of an online publication called "Virtuality." It is written and produced by PWP's and/or family members/caregivers. Sometimes the submissions are lighthearted, other times sad and serious. It was created to allow a place where original, uncensored creativity can be shared with others. We also show photos of craftwork, travels, etc. This is not a place for such writings as are usually provided in online forums, but an outlet for PWP's creativity of expression. It has been a while since a publication has been created, for a number of reasons (none of which are a good excuse!). "Virtuality" is published through PLWP (People Living With Parkinson's) and you can visit the site to see examples of older issues at plwp.org (or to go directly there by adding /virtuality to this address). There is some great stuff there! If you would like to submit something, please do so within the next week for the upcoming issue, or anytime by sending it to <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] and write the current month and your first name on the subject line. We are looking for regular columnist, also. We try to publish most everything submitted, but of course that isn't always possible. To give you an example of what type writing we're looking for, I have copied an old editor's note I wrote in 2002 (hope it makes you smile!) AMBIEN and EGG FU YUNG by Peg Willocks I recall the elaborate wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Di. There was more fanfare than the return of anything I had ever seen! Television stations showed the event live, with the elegant dress by attendees, charming horse-drawn buggies, and a cathedral that we have never seen the likes of in the U.S. And of course the Princess was so beautiful (the Prince . . . well, he was most fortuitous!), that she actually radiated! I recall the priest saying, "This is the stuff of which fairytales are made." Dreams are analogous to fairytales. And I'm glad some of my dreams never go from the fictitious to truth! I am prescribed a sleeping pill to take each night known as Ambien. One must be ready for bed when swallowed, doctor's orders. Within a few minutes the drug puts you in la-la land, ready or not! It's classified as a hypnotic, and I know why. I took an Ambien pill a day or so ago and decided to stay up "a little longer." The next morning, I awakened around 10:00 a.m. (late for me) dressed in my husband's discarded clothes that he usually leaves beside the bed each night. Then I scuffed to the kitchen where I found a dirty Chinese carton of half-eaten Egg Fu Yong and a strawberry pop-tart with a trail of crumbs leading to . . . could this be? Yep; I later found my own discarded clothes stained with Egg Fu Yong gravy and covered in pop-tart crumbs!! And I remembered NOTHING! Not all of our dreams are actually lived out as mine was, but if we can dream it; I believe it can be done. Dare we to dream of a cure in our lifetimes for Parkinson's? One day will people see my "scars" from PD (contracted hand, my cane in the corner, or old stitched scars from a fall) and ask, "Were you sick earlier in your life?" Just like my smallpox scar on my left arm, a quandary to my children; I dream of a day when steps won't give me problem . . . when "on" and "off" will only have reference to a light switch, and when the medical dictionary will define Parkinson's as "an eradicated neurological illness." People with Parkinson's are dreamers - possibly a prerequisite for the disease. So why not dream big; dream the impossible. Let's dream "the stuff of which fairytales are made!" Then, let's make our dreams stronger than fantasy - let's see that they happen! Peg Willocks 6/2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn