Summer heat and Parkinson's Disease don't go well together. Except when there is a rare reprieve, I've basically curtailed my walking. Two blocks and I am soaking wet.
I loved the summer as a kid. Almost nightly we'd get together whatever friends were home for a game of softball. The idea of staying in the house, would never occur to us. I love modern technology, but with it we pay a price. Do kids today play wii or guitar hero indoors rather then go out? I wouldn't trade childhoods with today's generation for the world.
I drove on Thursday. The first time since I hurt my back, nearly two months ago. I did fine. I did about 70 miles.
The disease progresses slowly, but there are noticeable signs.
My work, however, is improving. More business and better concentration.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
July 12, 2011 Marc the Park
One day I did realize
my handwriting was small
My Assistant said, “Marc,
I can’t read this at all.
I found myself driving over
Mountains and Rivers,
All the time my foot shaking
I must have the quivers.
I’m driving much faster
Than I like to go
Or was the Schlimazel before me
Just going too slow?
I’ve spent my life healthy
Despite my large girth
I wasn’t concerned,
There’s still room on this Earth
So I found myself thinking
“Have I reached the age,
That time in one’s life, where time turn’s a page.”
So I made an appointment, with the Good Dr. McSage
Who places his index finger, inside of my Cage.
“But Doctor my problem
Does not come from that end….”
He disagreed and told me again to bend
“You have Carpal Tunnel, I’m not mistaken,
And while I was in there I found this piece of bacon.
Not really,” he said, “I was just fakin.”
He said these problems you have
are not up your ass,
but while I was up there,
I caught this Sea Bass.
Your problems, I fear
Are all in your head.
Go see the head shrinker
And then off to bed!
I then tried to pay him
With Insurance, not dough.
“We don’t accept Insurance,
From Curly, Larry and Moe.”
So I next day I went
To visit the Shrink.
He said, “I can cure you.
Please pour me a drink.”
“Your problem you see
Comes from your Schmuck.
Tell me, have you ever made
Love to a duck”
As I ran to the door,
I said, “you’re clearly a Quack.
Before I leave here, can I
Have my Sheep back?”
Next I was scheduled
To get a brain scan
I’ll tell you right now
It wasn’t my plan
So I lay on this table
And listened to their tunes
The feature was two guys
Named Elmer, playing the spoons
Inside my head they said
There was nuthin’
Just a poor homeless family
Eating Turkey with stuffin’
So next to the Doc
To check my nerve ending
This time I’ll be more careful
When I start bending
Without sticking his finger
Where it doesn’t belong
He said, “I see the problem,
Please come along.”
“Your arms hang at your side
Like two fish on Canal Street.
And when you walk,
You shuffle your feet.”
You’re what we refer to
As a classical Parkie
I’m not pulling your leg
I’m not full of Malarky
Take these ten pills
To stop your tremor and shake
Of course you’ll have trouble
Remaining awake
So that was my story
Which I hope that you enjoyed reading
To put me away
Would take a Legal Proceeding.
my handwriting was small
My Assistant said, “Marc,
I can’t read this at all.
I found myself driving over
Mountains and Rivers,
All the time my foot shaking
I must have the quivers.
I’m driving much faster
Than I like to go
Or was the Schlimazel before me
Just going too slow?
I’ve spent my life healthy
Despite my large girth
I wasn’t concerned,
There’s still room on this Earth
So I found myself thinking
“Have I reached the age,
That time in one’s life, where time turn’s a page.”
So I made an appointment, with the Good Dr. McSage
Who places his index finger, inside of my Cage.
“But Doctor my problem
Does not come from that end….”
He disagreed and told me again to bend
“You have Carpal Tunnel, I’m not mistaken,
And while I was in there I found this piece of bacon.
Not really,” he said, “I was just fakin.”
He said these problems you have
are not up your ass,
but while I was up there,
I caught this Sea Bass.
Your problems, I fear
Are all in your head.
Go see the head shrinker
And then off to bed!
I then tried to pay him
With Insurance, not dough.
“We don’t accept Insurance,
From Curly, Larry and Moe.”
So I next day I went
To visit the Shrink.
He said, “I can cure you.
Please pour me a drink.”
“Your problem you see
Comes from your Schmuck.
Tell me, have you ever made
Love to a duck”
As I ran to the door,
I said, “you’re clearly a Quack.
Before I leave here, can I
Have my Sheep back?”
Next I was scheduled
To get a brain scan
I’ll tell you right now
It wasn’t my plan
So I lay on this table
And listened to their tunes
The feature was two guys
Named Elmer, playing the spoons
Inside my head they said
There was nuthin’
Just a poor homeless family
Eating Turkey with stuffin’
So next to the Doc
To check my nerve ending
This time I’ll be more careful
When I start bending
Without sticking his finger
Where it doesn’t belong
He said, “I see the problem,
Please come along.”
“Your arms hang at your side
Like two fish on Canal Street.
And when you walk,
You shuffle your feet.”
You’re what we refer to
As a classical Parkie
I’m not pulling your leg
I’m not full of Malarky
Take these ten pills
To stop your tremor and shake
Of course you’ll have trouble
Remaining awake
So that was my story
Which I hope that you enjoyed reading
To put me away
Would take a Legal Proceeding.
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4, 2011
The disease has knocked me out. The combination of the heat and the Parkinson's has thrown me for a loop. I find that I dread going outside. I still push myself to walk at least 1 1/2 miles a day, but it's a struggle.
My spirit is still good, and I'm working hard.
I've also made a concerted effort to do as my wife says. After all, eventually I give in and 99.9% of the time she is right anyhow. This way I avoid the hassle.
Although I've had my morose moments, I feel as though they are behind me now.
There are things that I've given up in the last few years.
I can't imagine ever going on a train to Yankee Stadium again. The crowds would be too much for me.
I rarely drank, but I did enjoy a nice glass of wine. With all of the medication in me, I'm hesitant to drink.
Spontaneous drives to Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, even southern Vermont were not unusual. I miss those. I haven't driven in about 6 weeks. I had hurt my back and was hesitant to drive with the stiffness coupled with the Parkinson's. My back is now alright. I'll drive this week.
I never knew that I was such a fighter, but I refuse to give into this. My wife asked me the other day, how long did I think that I was going to work. I have no reason to believe that I will ever quit. Be that realistic or not, that is what I truly believe. Giving in to this thing is anathema to me.
My spirit is still good, and I'm working hard.
I've also made a concerted effort to do as my wife says. After all, eventually I give in and 99.9% of the time she is right anyhow. This way I avoid the hassle.
Although I've had my morose moments, I feel as though they are behind me now.
There are things that I've given up in the last few years.
I can't imagine ever going on a train to Yankee Stadium again. The crowds would be too much for me.
I rarely drank, but I did enjoy a nice glass of wine. With all of the medication in me, I'm hesitant to drink.
Spontaneous drives to Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, even southern Vermont were not unusual. I miss those. I haven't driven in about 6 weeks. I had hurt my back and was hesitant to drive with the stiffness coupled with the Parkinson's. My back is now alright. I'll drive this week.
I never knew that I was such a fighter, but I refuse to give into this. My wife asked me the other day, how long did I think that I was going to work. I have no reason to believe that I will ever quit. Be that realistic or not, that is what I truly believe. Giving in to this thing is anathema to me.
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