 |
 |
Dear Listfriends (including the "Parkinsawians" of northern Michigan): I'm pretty sure you know what the answer is - Archbishop Desmond Tutu. At 4:49 today, the Archbishop called me, the second time he has done so. I feel he seems to be puzzling over exactly with which words his prayer for us will come forth into being. He is deeply concerned about us. It is a humbling and hopeful experience to receive a call like his. I told him how grateful so many of us are to him. I am sure he is fully aware that World Parkinson's Day is coming up SOON. I do recall that his secretary, Jaqueline, once mentioned to me that he will do everything possible to have the prayer ready by then, She added, however, that there is a bit of a chance it would be ready a little later in April, after the 11th. To me, just the knowledge that, for whatever reason, I was apparently in the right place at the right moment , and that, by some miracle, we have kindled a little fire in the Archbishop, is just awesome. I have had it on my mind to write the List much earlier this evening, and would ask you to forgive me, please, for not writing until now. I am less than a day back home after travelling to Augusta to testify about the wages of personal care attendants. There is now a huge effort to bring about a raise from $6.25 per hour to $8 or $9 per hour It is an effort 600 of us in wheelchairs or with limits on mobility, are involved in at the legislature. I am still a little overtired. I will send a copy of this to Jaqueline Smith, the Archbishop's secretary in Atlanta who incidentally, has a law degree. The Archbishop somehow made me feel very protecteded. I actually talked to an Episcopal priest recommended to me by an Episcopalian frien