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Sue, daughter of Rocky, In a message dated 97-06-12 12:43:49 EDT, you write: << My Dad with PD was an electrical engineer, and worked in aeronotics (sp?). We brought down our old computer...and sadly he can't make head or tails of it. On a good day we can get him into a game like hangman or something and he can play. It breaks my heart because he was very intelligent, and if he could I know he would love to be a part of this group. I often send him copies of some of the letter here. Sue, daughter of Rocky 7?/15 >> This and your mention of your dad's mask prompts me to respond. I join others who say that the mind is likely still there (at least as far as your dad may be affected by his PD. His medications or other conditions could truly cause mental deterioration). The mask is another element in his inability to communicate what does go on in his head. Just keep trying anew to be creative in your attempts to glean communication from him. I am not comparing him to a dog, but you might use the same methods as you would if you were interested in trying to figure out what a dog wants or is thinking. In that case you need to be very alert, visually, to any small cue -- a movement, glance, sound -- that could indicate a specific desire. Putting your hand on the dog helps you sensate the differing tensions of aversion, excitation and direction. This must be done repeatedly and patiently for you to become adept at it. In your case with your dad, you can utilize his good days to decide on a "code" to use. Then practice, practice, practice until it is imprinted and automatic, even on his other days. One final note: I choose a positive approach if at all possible in my life and when my dad started staring blankly I got pretty desperate for finding a plus there. One disconcerting effect of his mask is that I sometimes find myself responding by mimicking it (I'm soooooooo suggestible), especially if it is fixed in an expression of amazement. Finally I got to email my siblings, laughing, that Frank had come to me to tell me a story in which there were two intense reactions. He liked the tale and was enthusiastic in telling it -- and he didn't know that most of my responsive laughter was due to his theatrical acting of the events in the story. He paused once in the telling to demonstrate great mirth, and again later to personify horror. It was hysterical to see an identical expression in each case. He could be a prop-up comedian on the PD circuit. Here's to better days, in memory and in our tomorrows. Deanne Charlton (CG) [log in to unmask]