THIS IS MY NEW LOOK

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It's not perfect but neither am I. I have tried several things and through going back and forth all night this is the result. It is now one in the morning and after a nap and getting up and the blog was still full page I have accomplished something...A PLUS though a little plus in life's journeys. Speaking of journeys,I am starting on a huge one and taking a rather large crowd with me. Unlike last year when we all showed up on Saturday and then were gone, this year I have choreographed four days in New York City, all the way down to the rental of a wheelchair for three days. I've checked people on my team for tee shirt sizes and made sure they got the right hotel. Planned a get together for this organization and that. Plotted a supper for PLM members for either Friday or Saturday evening and still hopefully left time for me and New York City to embrace as we did last year. It always seems impossible to me that I can love this city as much as I do.I love the energy and availability. Everything is right at hand. Last year one daughter went with me and this year both daughters are going. I hesitate to say this will be my last trip. At one time I thought it might but things are looking up again and I have so much more I would like to see here. But for now let me tell you about my team Team Patientslikeme at the 16th Annual Parkinson's Unity Walk in Central Park on April 24th at 10:00am. We are now up to 27 members and have collected $4000.00 and have a month to go. This may not seem like much to you but this was started from nothing and grows daily from heaven. The team is so excited they can hardly contain their selves on line. Patientslikeme has furnished us with team tee shirts and we will be strutting our stuff for sure. We are bringing our families and inviting friends and crossing communities because......these cures can not be won by just Parkinson's or just ALS or MS but a combined effort from all of us. I have not only Parkinson's but Epilepsy and Acute Arthritis and have invited all groups plus Francesco Clark, Spokesperson for the Chris Reeves Foundation to come. We need to all hold hands in what ever fashion we may to be united in improving our health and well being in this time of health care strife. Wheel chair, to wheelchair, walker to walker, smile to smile......What a day! If your in New York come and visit. We may be slow and some are bent, We may have tremors and speak quite low. We may be very emotional and hug a lot; but our hearts are huge and our minds are good and our ability to be good company is unsurpassed...love Pokie

"I love you, too.........

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What does it take to make a good friend and do the requirements change with time?  In early life it is some one who plays with you in the sand box and though you have spats always comes back on another day, with all things forgotten and ready for a new episode to start.  Mid life is the same with bigger stakes, and one is always distracted by life's hassles and tragedies . At this point in time, one usually turns to their family. Friends are there but not to the intensity that comes with age.  Like a good wine these friendships are the best by far.  Any emotion that makes it past the passion of the early stage and moves on or endures to the clear thinking stage is worth its weight in gold. I have reunited with high school friends recently and that set my heart off and running.  I got very sick and woke up to my best friend at the end of my bed. I have gotten letters from strangers from all parts of the world wanting to be my friend.  I have friends I have never met but who warm my heart by simply stating,"I love you too"......As I have stated before.  When I came down with Parkinson's Disease, I would have had trouble finding eleven people to send a chain letter to.  I had people I had relationships with but few had went deep into my life.  This was either by their choice or mine.  My children occupied most of my life and my love life occupied the other.  I traveled from one day to the next at a lightning pace not realizing that God had only allotted so many days to each of us and we should be cherishing each sunrise and sunset and all between. With Parkinson's you can travel through many diagnoses before they land on a firm opinion.  You may start at Parkinson's, travel through MSA and end up in Lymes or  vis versa.  Maybe it is the tragedy of all this or just our maturity, but these friendships seem to me to be the best.  Maybe it is the whole ora of emails instead of letters. All I can say is that in the past three years I have made friends that are so precious to me.  I have continued with old friends in a new light that truely shines.  I look forward to new relationships daily from places I will never see. Yes I believe in a higher power.  To me it seems to be a given, and as I battle life these are the things that keep me going and smiling. No matter how tired I am, there comes a ,"I love you too, Pokie" that is just like God pulling a snuggle blanket over me so I can take a good nap.....thank you Lord and one and all,     Pokie