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Joan 'n All.... Ya know.. . as I read your comments I got the mental picture of a beloved childhood storybook character, known world wide in one form or another, which is almost a role model for them of us fighting the daily battle to remain independent while living with Parkinson's .... I see us Parkies as being like the "Little Engine that Could," battling his way over the tall mountains with a load of Christmas gifts for the children in the valley below. As he slowly chugged up the mountain, he kept saying, "I think I can.... I think I can.... I KNOW I CAN!!" And he accomplished his goal! Each day we each face our own form of the tall mountains and each day so many of we Parkies say to ourselves and the world, "I think I can.... I think I can.... I KNOW I can!" We find indeed we CAN do what we've set out to do - no matter how tough the battle! Hey - maybe our Parkinson's logo should be that little train, and our PD motto might become "I think I can.... I think I can.... I KNOW I CAN!" <smiling> Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Stan or Joan Snyder <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 12:38 AM Subject: P.M.A. > My friend Barb & all: I have been thinking about what Barb wrote about >rereading the article in Parade & especially the part about having to >justify our disease and our problems to the world. I can say that from >my point of view, it's our damn determination to keep a "Positive >Mental Attitude" which on some days is all that gets me through. No >wonder we're sending out the wrong signals! >We all know that if we give up & give in to PD, we are sure to suffer >mental anguish & despair, so we keep up the PMA as a coping mechanism. I >can say that I have never met so many "quiet heroes" as I have since >joining this list-even the vocal ones (I include myself) are so busy >being determined to best this disease, that the world sees our PMA & >assumes that we are doing fine. I don't know which is worse: struggling >to get out of the car while someone chatters on about the weather or >having them ask me if they can help-to which I'll always reply: "I can >do it myself, thanks!" I guess what I really want them to do is hold out >an arm & just yank without me having to admit that I need help. Ah, but >that would be in a >perfect world & in a perfect there wouldn't be PD...or insensitivity! >So, on goes my PMA & out I go to face another day! > >Joan Snyder (47/10/8) <[log in to unmask]> Peoria,IL >"Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda >http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/snyder/page1.htm >