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Dear List, Today is very special to me, thanks to you.......One year ago today I received a reply from another young Parkie.......He had read my intro letter on here and responded to my request to hear from others w/PD that were in there 30's.......You cant imagine the relief you brought me by allowing me to find someone close to my age that knew and understood what I was going through with this disease......This fellow Parkie was a joy to get to know.....the multitude of things we had in common amazed us....we shared the same tastes in foods, music, etc......he had even attended college in my home state which led us to discover we had attended the same concerts there way back in our younger, healthier days.......My parents owned and operated a restaurant in a nearby town at which it turns out he had eaten at!.........It was fun discovering this man who was so much like me in so many ways.....Out of those simple letters a powerful friendship grew........We vowed that no matter where our lives took us we would always be Buds.......united for life by a disease that although causes daily pain and discomfort, somehow managed to bring us together to find some happiness........We have met face to face only a few times, but there are countless letters and phone calls that have helped us solidify this "budship"..........It's been a rollercoaster of a year........one that I will never forget........right now I wish for more than anything that my Bud and I could celebrate this anniversary together, but like PD, life is full of curves that are tough to navigate.........I can find joy in the fact that I am still able to communicate with him and know that we both are reading the list and remembering how it brought us together..........Thank you again list......and Thank you Kevin, for being my Bud, through thick and thin, through parlodel and permax, through insomnia and dyskenesia, through tears and smiles........especially the smiles......because that's what comes to my face when I think of you..........Happy Anniversary Bud.........here's to many more......and hopefully a cure in our lifetime..........I love you................Always, Nicole Antonia