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Attention, listfriends: Greg Leeman has said some VERY important things. I really try NOT to ask Greg for help. Yesterday I had to call 9-1-1. I guess I get to push for Udall again tomorrow if I have the energy. This week the $6.25/hour Medicaid caregiver roulette game leaves me uncovered on Tues, Tues eve, Tues night, Wed eve, Wed night........ Thank you, Greg for putting your worries aside and staying at my house last night-you've earned your place in my Angels book. Ivan ^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ Ivan Suzman 48/11 [log in to unmask] Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 72 deg. F *********************************************************** On Sat, 11 Jul 1998 22:02:06 -0400 Gregory Leeman <[log in to unmask]> writes: >Gail, > >As Robin William's said in "The Best of Times" - "We need someone to >rescue >us from the bowels of lethargy." Just trying to keep a perspective. >On the >serious side of the question is who? I read Bruce Anderson's post this >afternoon. It is exactly why I've been so inactive on the list >lately. How >many times can we mouth the cry? When do we see a sign? We have highs >and >lows every day. WHEN WILL THEY LISTEN? > >I have confessions to make. I am lethargic lately. It is tough to >deal with >not being able to help everyone you feel you should. I mean like >trying to >help Ivan but, having more irons in the fire than I could possibly >handle. >Trying to face my own back and hip pain, disability matters, 501 (C) >(3)'s, >the web site, family commitments, not stepping on the established >support >groups in Maine toes, making sure we stay viable with the Maine >Parkinson's >Society and being supportive to a list that has been Godsend to me. >Trying >to make the best decision in the long-term without callously >neglecting >someone who needs help. > >There is actually more, but this is not a complaint but more of an >explanation or a mild venting. I read and read trying to find some >help. I >write and I write and look more for the answers. Only, there are not >always >answers. Sometimes we have to make gut decisions. Other times we are >more >reflective. Sometimes we have no control. I will not say we don't >have >control of Udall. However, we can't be someone we are not capable of >being. >Physically, most of us are limited in many ways. Emotionally, the >same can >be said. > >The options are to keep trying what hasn't worked, try something bold >and >chance ending up in prison or a psychiatric ward, or come up with >something >ingenious. The last is not an option for me. I could help follow >through, >but not likely to come up with something that word implies. There are >capable people on the list, I think, that could fulfill the last and >best >option. What about a contest? A contest, yea, that's the ticket. We >could >give the winner a new life with fine motor control and the ability to >sign >autographs for their adoring fans. They could smile widely for all the >publications who would be fighting over a sensation story that is >truly just >that. Then with all the money left over from their awards and the >rights to >this magnificent story that person would have to sponsor a list >reunion. We >could all dance or make gestures to signal we don't dance. Those who >didn't, >wouldn't be obligated by the chorea-grapher. We would all be >obligated to >smile for the list picture. That wouldn't be a problem. > >The only problem with the "eggs all in one basket approach" is not the >disappointment if Congress FAILS TO SEE US. It is that we are not >focusing >enough on the Ivan's among us. Collectively we need to do a better >job with >this. I admit it, I haven't been there every time he has called. I >have >done as much as I think I can do. And, that adds to Ivan's lack of >continuity. This is not intended to rationalize that I am right for >not >having enough strength to answer the 2 am calls because another PCA >has not >shown. It is because we NEED A LOCAL PRESENCE TO HELP FROM NOW TILL >THERE >IS A CURE OR BETTER TREATMENT FOR ALL PWPS. Because there are others >who >need help as well. We can have more of an impact on more people if we >concentrate on efficiency. I know that sounds loutish. However, I >feel >from this time forward, that will be my focus. I hope some others >will take >this same path. I pray that we get funding, not for the actual money, >but >for the end of suffering that would come from it. > >I know some should and will stay the course. That is good. I just >hope >that we can do better away from the list. My only experience is in >Maine. >We have approximately 2/70 of the estimated PD population at support >group >meetings now. The rest have to fend for themselves. We must go to >them. >If we wait till they hear through the current system, well, enough >said for >one day. > >Thanks for listening, I wish we could get the non-PD folk to listen. >From >the bowels of lethargy . . . > >Greg Leeman >