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Sounds like more of political rhetoric to me. I wonder how her Democratic colleague, Mo Udall would have responded to this interview and minimizing the results of PD Bob Chapman mary yost wrote: > >From the September 1999 issue of "George" magazine, here is an excerpt of > an interview with Janet Reno written by their executive editor, Richard > Blow: > > Q: In 1995, you were dignosed with Parkinson's Disease. How much does that > bother you? > > RENO: Some days it does, some days it doesn't. [Points to her hands.] > This is the primary symptom. Some days I get stiff, but I think that's > from lack of exercise in this [right} hand, because of the shaking of this > hand. > > Q: Is that frustrating? > > RENO: No. I just think of what it must be like for people who have > difficulties, who stutter, who have cancer. And you think, Gosh, I'm > fortunate. > > Q: Do you worry about it getting worse? > > RENO: No. > > Q: Not at all? > > RENO: No. I know it's going to get worse. But I watched my mother die of > lung cancer. I watched other people I love die of different things. We're > all going to die someday. So far, I think I'm fortunate. > > Q: What do you say to the people who have urged you to speak out more > about Parkinson's? > > RENO: I have told the people I love and have confidence in, "If you ever > see me impaired so that I couldn't be attorney general, let me know." > Otherwise, I just do my job. > > Q: And that's how you set an example? > > RENO: That's the point I make. A lot of people tell me, "I've derived > such courage from watching you, and I can deal with my Parkinson's or other > diseases better because of it." I'm very happy that I can do that. I > represent the interests of all the people of the United States, not just > some, and I think I can use the time after I leave office to speak out on > this issue. > > Q: Is there anything that Parkinson's has affected your ability to do? > > RENO: It's harder to take notes of everything at a Congressional hearing. > > Q: Has your handwriting changed? > > RENO: My handwriting has changed. It's wiggly, unless I write very carefully. > > [The article continues, and ends with:] > RENO: Well, I'm not a Davy Crockett figure. A lot of people have been > brought up around animals. That doesn't make them Davy Crockett. > > Q: Yes, but how many people have wrestled alligators? > > RENO: [laughs, holding up hands about two feet apart] They were SMALL > alligators. > > from Mary Yost, age 51, first symptoms 1980, diagnosed 1990, working full > time still as a University administrator but reaching turtle-speed. > [log in to unmask]