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Sylvia Gartland [log in to unmask] Hi Sylvia, Read your intro & feel a kinship in many ways. I'm a 56 year old married woman. I live in the suburbs of Kansas City, USA. My husband is 6 years my junior, and is very actively involved with his community college teaching, his public speaking & characterizations, & his volunteer work with the service club, Rotary International. I was first diagnosed in 1984, about 22 months after we were married, although I wasn't put on PD meds until 1987. Doctorwise, I have gotton along best with those who gave me autonomy in the management of my meds. My family doctor at the time was my best ally. I was sorry to lose him when our medical insurance (provided by my husband's employer) changed. During one patch when I was not given that kind of respect, my condition worsened with what for me was too much medicine. Now, for my PD I have a good relationship with movement disorder specialists at a nearby university medical center. The decade of the 80s was spent being president, planner, & first administrative manager of a volunteer community radio station here, which went on the air in February, 1988. In 1989 I also started a public affairs program I called "Woman to Woman." While I at first was the producer, host, & engineer for the program, it still continues with my role being mainly consulting. The show features mainly the lives of local women as well as women from history. I LOVE your idea of making dolls who are "Mysterious Women of the Past." I would hope for you to consider the turn-of-the-century Austrian writer & peace activist, Bertha Von Suttner. She worked briefly for Alfred Nobel, leaving his employ to run away with & to marry the Baron Von Suttner. However, she remained a confidante of Nobel & is credited with influencing him to create the Peace Prize, which she herself was eventually awarded. Her antiwar novels were very popular, much to the dismay of government officials in Europe. A popular saying around our house is when you're given a lemon, try to make lemondade. You certainly do that! Love your creativity, especially in looking for ways to turn your talent & current lifestyle into an income proposition! I also think there's a lot of reason for hope when I read what scientists & healers from all over this planet are discovering. Regards, Barbara Blake-Krebs [log in to unmask] Merriam KS USA