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To Mr Jim Cordy: Call it kismet, call it Divine Intervention (which I prefer), or call it dumb luck: the fact that we were at a Chinese Restaurant one day having lunch when our PD conversation was overheard by a woman who understood & came over to introduce herself as an artist whose show on PD had so affected me 4 yrs ago. Call it what you will but, things took off from that point until we have come to a point where our PD Awareness Day is becoming a huge event! But, to tell you the truth, Jim, what has motivated me recently is disbelief & yes, anger. Last week in a large box of literature that was sent to me by the American Parkinson Disease Association, (and for which I am very grateful to have to use as handouts at our event-lots of great info in there); i found a Parkinson Alert ID card put out by the Chicago Area Chapter of APDA. Thinking, Wow-great idea!-I started to read the card. It says and i quote: "Parkinson's is a neurological disease which is neither fatal, painful not contagious. Its symptoms are tremor (shaking), rigidity, slow gait & a low, slurred speaking voice. It can cause a gait & balance impairment which may resemble intoxication, but is not. Judgment & vision remain unimpaired. These symptoms worsen several times a day in an "on-off" cycle. I usually do not need any special help , except with tasks requiring physical coordination or strength. Thank you in advance for you help, understanding and patience." While this seems to be & probably is ok by some people-I find it to be demeaning & downright false. I'd like to know if all of this pain I deal w/ each day-both physical & mental-is all a figment of my imagination!!! Sure, everybody knows that PD doesn't kill you...HA! Try telling Judith that or anyone else on this list who knows what this disease is capable of. And while I'm at it-I'm tired of my symptoms being made light of: I need help everytime that i get into & out of a car, writing checks, standing when there are no seats around; and I'm sick of apologizing for not being drunk!!! I find it demeaning to have to apologize every time i make a phone call & must first apologize for my voice!!! Maybe I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this night...but this really rattles my cage. -- Joan E. Snyder (47-8-10) <[log in to unmask]> "In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer" Albert Camus http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/snyder/page1.htm