 |
 |
posting) (Sorry for the 2nd posting. I wanted to clean up any typo's for a clean copy to Antonia) To all those on the PD list, hello. My name is Kevin Lacey. I'm 39 years old and was diagnosed almost 7 years ago to this day. I've been a lurker on this list for over 1 1/2 years. I?ve always been hesitant about coming out of my ?parkinsonian? closet, wondering if what I had to say would be of any worth? This past weekend my ?Bud? printed out the list from Friday on the news of Alan Bonander?s death and brought it to me to read. I didn?t know Alan, but reading his daily input on our list, I felt as if I did. He dispensed a treasure trove of information and advice that kept all of our hopes and spirits alive. My dearest sympathy to his family. He will surely be missed by us all. Well, I finally have a story to tell you all. For me, it is one of thanks and courage, but even more than those; a story of true love. It was a typical morning for me as I struggled to download one of the archived weeks of info. that helped me in my daily survival with this most frustrating disease. It was February (The month/date are irrelevant except to "us") I was leafing through the pages I had downloaded and I came across her intro. (I'll use her middle name in respect of her privacy) Antonia introduced herself and asked if any other PD'ers her age would like to talk to her. I kept the info. thinking I'd drop her a line. A week later, I did. After several witty weeks of e-mailing and answering question, after queation, after question........a love was born! We fell in love way before we ever even saw what the other looked like. Looks became irrelevant, because we had already bonded emotionally! So, when we did meet, it was just the most wonderful experience in my entire life!! It was icing (or whipped cream to us) on the cake! I am SO LUCKY and HAPPY to have met such a beautiful and special ?lady?! I have had the fortune of experiencing a love and total understanding that I could've never dreamed immaginable. We became the best of friends and a love affair blossomed. I once promised her that I?d ALWAYS be her BUD, and she in turn replied, ?Yes, we?ll always be BUDS.? She always referred to herself as being shy. Yet, I was overcome at how SO MUCH strength and courage came out of her petite 5'-3" body! I can express it with the following analogy. Remember how proud we all were when we watched Ali in the throws of tremoring light the Olympic torch! That?s how I felt being around Antonia! I once asked her if there were 3 things in life she could change, what would they be? You know what her first response was? "I wouldn't wish I didn't have PD, because then I would've never met you, Bud." Amazing! Well, Antonia, here in front of our whole group of peers.............I consider myself lucky to have PD too! For, without it, I would not have met you either, nor experienced what true love was all about! Thanks for touching my soul and carving a place in my heart where I'll forever hold our memories of "us" together! I will always be a lucky PD'er for having my life touched by Antonia. Ironic, as I read of Alan?s death I could only think of why Antonia and I were meeting. We met this past weekend to end our love affair. It had to end due to many reasons only Antonia and I can understand, but none of which were our ?true love? for each other! So, today I mourn the loss of our love affair, but know in my heart I gained a soul mate and ?Bud? for life........I guess I thought I'd relate this to everyone because, everyday I read of the pain and suffering PD brings to people on this list............I wanted to show, somtimes, it brings JOY and LOVE......yes, somtimes "good does come out of bad"...........count your blessings today.....I am!!! THANKS, Antonia.........your Bud.........always! (Sorry if I took up so much space) Antonia once told me a motto. I?d like to repeat it here and use it in memory of ?our relationships? that she and I had........?That what does not kill us will only make us stronger.? My neurologist who first diagnosed my PD said when I asked if one ultimately dies from PD, ?No, Parkinson?s cannot kill you.? I didn?t know what to say to him after all he had just dumped in my lap, butI do now! ?That what does not kill us, can only make us stronger? <nag> Always....................................M. Kevin Lacey, 39/7