Celebrating Sunday Everyday

Parkinson's Disease has done some very unique things to my life, quite a few of which are awesome and these two are the most AWESOME ever. At a wedding reception this teenager from Hawaii held up two glasses and and a bottle of Wine toward a woman he was immediately drawn to....and i can just hear her saying who me though Al never probably stood a chance in the plan of things. I'm sure they fell in love before they ever met. That's the way soul mates do. And now so many years later, they still clown and play around each other as if no time has passed at all. They welcomed me into there home the 4th of October without knowing me except from the internet and talking to me on the phone and though they are in their fifties and and I am in my sixties, we played like a bunch of young school kids the whole time I was there. If I were to give anyone a gift for Christmas, I would give the gift of two friends so dear. They don't always agree but they always make up and they never hate. They laugh and keep each others lives on track while keeping everyone else's lives on the straight and narrow. Karen has the ability to mother without nagging and Al is standing in the background pulling it all together. So today I wish to embarrass Karen just a little, since she is about to be a grandma once again and the last week has been pretty rough, and say on God's Day I thank you for being my friend and when I read your blog on Myspace last night, I was so proud and I was moved to my core.www.myspace.com/btrflynana.....Read it I challenge you, you'll be moved

God Giveth and He Taketh Away

Gosh! this is just too funny . I just spent two hours telling the world how much pain I was in and really putting it out there so you would really know what it was to have Parkinson's Disease and then my funny friend, just took it away. that's right I finished and started proofing and it disappeared. So I will take that as a sign that God does not want me complaining so here's the other half of the story. The things that God has given me in the adversity of this disease. At one time I had to search high and low for twelve people to send a chain letter to and today maybe a 100 people grace my contacts book. I use to travel to town feeling so sorry for myself and now by the time I get to town the world is my apple and I'm ready to feast. I have a new support group and am traveling monthly to spend time with my dear friends. My mourning starts with people who sincerely care if I get out of bed or not and I care about them. Just today I have one friend, who her daughter is having a ninth birthday.(Faith Ann), One friend who may become a grandma today and is feeling very sick and may have to miss it. One friend who is riding high on passion and one friend who is preparing for a visit from me to help her celebrate her 77th birthday. Add to all that Christmas and Thanksgiving....I really don't spend much time on Parkinson's and I must say this, I have never been happier. One more thing, to my friend Nat. Thank you for your response to my email. You made the time from Oakland to Denver just fly! Your are an enchanting person and the way you ran past me yelling POKIE TOO< POKIE TOO at luggage claim and then disappeared was like a visit from an angel....thank you and I'll keep in touch...pokie

POKIE'S PENNIES

When I ventured out to California, this is what I found and loved on first sight. Three wonderful people who will for ever change my life. Al and Karen and Marian showed me more love than I have ever been shown in a life time. The smiles and hugs began instantly and I hope will never end. I am a Methodist by faith and have never had spiritual things happen to me like what happened on a daily habit. Karen and Al holding hands and playing like a couple of kids. Through it all they have never lost that special feeling of teenage love and all it entails. It was such a beautiful thing to watch and I loved it. There was Marian, quiet with a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies and a little red box with her eyes cast down like a small child with a very special drawing for mom. "I made these for you," she said and tears came to her eyes and everyone else's. A beautiful, one of a kind, tulip necklace, just for me....I never took it off the rest of the trip. and then when I returned home she wrote the following poem and ask if she could post it on Patientslikeme.com and my answer was, "My dear, you need never ask my permission to print anything you write." and here it is:

POKIE'S PENNIES I have a friend , so strong and kind, Who has a compass of a mind. On her journey in this life, At times in joy, at times in strife, When there's a choice that must be made, Or she's in doubt or she's afraid, God sends a messenger so small, You might not notice it at all. Every time she turns around, She finds a penny on the ground, Or in a song, or on a shelf Or in a dream all by itself. She follows where the pennies lead, And finds that all is well indeed. This touchstone tells her of her mission, If she takes the time to listen. Why can't I have a helper too? Lord knows I need it, we all do. But wait; is that a sign I see? Is my friend my epiphany? Was she sent to light the way? I think she was, but who can say? With happy tears my eyesight blurs, Is she my penny, or am I hers?

Now has anything so beautiful ever been written? I think not!!!!! The funny looks on our faces was because I had decided to quit smiling because every time my mouth took up my whole face and yet I could not stop smiling long enough to get the picture taken...just shirr happiness. love ya pokie