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Dear Ivan, I know I am a newcomer to parkinsons and tothe list but I just wanted to tell you how deep my admiration for you and your efforts is. You inspire me to keep going many times when I feel like just giving up, which has been a frequent occurence. When I read about you activities and your constant vigilance, it overwhelms me, often to tears. I havent been writing much since I seem to have lost a great deal of interest, enthusiasm and sense of humor which are the things that mostly shield me from dispair. Thank you. Jennifer Ivan M Suzman wrote: > 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