Archive for October, 2009

Is It Just An Old Man That You See?

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

What do you think when you look at me?
Is it just an old man that you see?
Oh how I would like to still be strong!
For my youth, of that I do long.

My manly physique is turned to fat;
Can no longer do this, have trouble doing that.
My speech is slurred, hard to understand;
Balance is not good, which makes walking less than grand.

I doze whenever I stop and sit for awhile…
At times my face is locked without any smile.
I drool and sometimes I can’t catch it at all…
Drips from my mouth on my shirt they do fall.

What do you think when you look at me?
Is it just an old man that you see?
Parkinson’s Disease, abilities taken away…
Things get worse each and every day.

I might not be able to perform as I could.
But, you can do something for me if you would…
Try to see past the old man that you see;
When you look at me, try to see me!

Another Day with Parkinson’s

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

This mornng I had a breakfast meeting. Frank Manson was picking me up at 7:15am. I woke up at 4:30am and decided to get up out of bed; I was extremely stiff and had trouble getting up into a standing position. I finally made it downsatirs to the kitchen and sat at the kitchen table. I got my medicines out for the day. Then I fixed me a bowl of cereal. Even though I was going out to eat breakfast, I had to eat cereal so I could take my medicine without getting sick. Took my medicine at 6am and by 7am it still wes not working; I still could not walk. I got in the vehicle at home with Frank at 7:15am and went into the restaurant. Still no relief from my medicine. I was just thinkng as much trouble as I had this morning, without my cane I would be trappped - unable to walk or go with Frank or go out to breakfast. The NextStep walking aid gives me my freedom. I am not held prisoner in my own home.  It does not make sense –  it just works.