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>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 14:23:57 >To: [log in to unmask] >From: Russell Ahlstrom <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: more humor > > Parkinson's Can Be Fun > > Co-authored by: > Brady Kinesia > Iva Tremor > John McConeghey > --------------- >A collection of jokes, and stories, and limericks made up while under the influence of Eldepryl (it keeps the authors awake nights). > >Most of this material is original, but fellow PWP's friends, and my brother, who has an equally wierd sense of humor, have contributed. None of this material is copyrighted and if you can put any of it to use, please do. > >NOTE: I met John McConeghey a few years ago at a facilitators conference in Minneapolis,MN. I don't know if he is still with us or not. I liked John for what he had to offer the conferece as well as being just himself. It isn't often that you meet someone who can relate a disease like Parkinson's in this form. John shared with us that day and I would like fellow list members to listen to John through this message that follows. I have edited it so that it isn't too long but the message is basically the same. (Russ Ahlstrom) > > I was diagnosed as having Parkinson's disease in April of 1990. My doctor told me it was a funny disease. It was several days before I saw anything funny about it. > I immediatley went to the local library to see what I could learn about my new companion. They had one book --but it was a good one, titled Parkinson's ; a Patients View by Sidney Dorros. I read halfway through the first page and was astounded to find a reference to my first cousin. He had helped critique Mr. Dorros's book. There is a lot to learn about PD and if you are going to have something it beats many other diseases hands down. While this writing is intended for PWP's it might be read by outsiders, so a basic understanding about PD would be in order ---- otherwise you might miss the point of some of the jokes ( and we all know how jokes go over that have to be explained.) > >A resting tremor-- you shake when idle >Stooped posture,a shuffling gait, a masked expression (handy for poker) Freezing --particularly in door ways, Bradykinesia: slowness of movement, Diskinesia: involuntary twitching, Festination: a tendency to be unable to stop while walking. > > It would have been relatively easy to have become depressed about being >told you have PD, however Iam normally an optimistic person plus the fact that I had a friend who simply wouldn't allow it. We have golfed togeather, played tournament bridge, and have exchanged insults and barbs for over 30 years. If he were to treat me courteously for over 10 minutes I would be insulted. Needless to say, I treat him the same. He made light of my diagnoses , suggesting, senility, or excessive drinking, or too much or too little sex. He had several ideas how I might turn the problem to an advantage---such as how easy it would be for me to mix cocktails and milkshakes. He also suggested I might be popular as a gynecologist. With help like this it is hard to take yourself too seriously. > >Anyhow--- in my wakeful hours one night it occured to me that I'd never heard any PD jokes. We poke fun at Alzheimer's,impotency, Aids ect. Why not PD? So I set out to create some jokes. Some were so-so, some were "groaners" and afew were so good (I thought) that he had to get up and go to the guest bathroom to laugh so that I wouldn't wake my wife. > Norman Cousins has pretty well established the fact that laughter is an aid to treatment of illness. If by reading his jokes and notice any improvement in your health, you had better write some of your own and then file a claim with Medicare for your fees. Please enjoy !! > >NOTE: I will start posting more of his humor tomorrow. > >Russ Ahlstrom [log in to unmask] >53/32 >