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Hello all: You have all just hit upon some subjects that I had never given much thought to: 1) "How are you?" and I always grin (pained) and say "I've had better years!" figuring that it should be perfectly obvious to everyone that I'm not "fine". More than likely, I've limited my times when I "venture forth" to periods when I'm sure to be "on" and try very hard not to let people see me (especially not my husband or mother!) see me at my worst-because they would worry too much. I try to shake & suffer in private!-it seemed somehow more noble (& I'm afraid that if anyone saw how bad it can get that they wouldn't understand the nature of the beast & realize that my bad times are usually in direct proportion to my good times: x=good; y=bad & they can come in many & varied combinations & would clip my wings for good!) Boy, talk about your run-on sentences!! Dennis you were right on the mark, again. I have been guilty of minimizing my pain & trying to play spin doctor with my symptoms to help ME handle it. Gina, what you said about friends really cut close to the bone: I used to be in with the "in" crowd, or who I perceived to be "in" but as my disease got worse, I began to make different friends: caring, compassionate, understanding friends, who have seen me at my worst-they have picked me up off the floor, shoved & tugged to get my fat butt out of cars & into doctor appointments & who suffer with me! The difference is startling. One of my old friends cannot deal with my disease to the point of actually talking to my kids rather than me (i.e.: "Hey kids, how's mom doin'?" when I'm standing right there!), while her sister-in-law is one of the most patient, caring & loving people I know now. I just am thankful for finding the people who care the most are the ones who will help out the most. I'd also like to thank Bob Dolezal for his grasp of numbers & for pointing out that we are one of the most misrepresented & misunderstood & non-vocal groups going. The other day, watching yet another ad for an event (breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart, lungs, Alzheimer's, all good & noble causes with good & noble celebrity spokespersons), my husband asked me if it didn't bother me that no one ever hears about Parkinson's. Well, now it does! I guess we're the only ones who can change our destiny & other people's perceptions of us & that's what we must do-starting today! --- Joan Snyder (47/10/8) <[log in to unmask]> "Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/snyder/page1.htm