Last year at Thanksgiving I shared 10 things that I am thankful for while living with Parkinson’s Disease.  Looking back at what I wrote, not much has changed.  I would like to share this list again, with a few comments about the last year.

10.   Getting by on little sleep gives us much more time to spend playing  games on our iPads in the middle of the night, while we are deluding ourselves into thinking that these games may actually help our brain cells regenerate.  I have cut back on the games in the middle of the night, but sleep still eludes me.  The latest research is showing that some of these brain games actually do help with memory.  

9.  We can blame our Obsessive/Compulsive behaviors (see #10) on our medications and the non-Parkies will believe us.  Writing this blog is just one of my OCD behaviors.  And because of this, I have begun writing letters to the editor and to others to express my opinion.  And some have even been published.   I have become much more vocal about many things.

8.  Waking up at 5:00 am doesn’t seem so early anymore.   But why am I always late to my 8:30 yoga class? (See #10. Still playing those stupid games on my iPad)   Still waking up too early, but I get to walk my dog at dawn and enjoy the sunrise.  And then I play those stupid games…..

7.  I can do things with my left hand now that I would not have been able to do if that damn tremor in my right hand didn’t act up when I am trying to do something like eating, writing, brushing my teeth……you fill in the blanks.  Fortunately Sinimet has been very effective for me and I am right-handed again.  Yeah!  Another thing to be thankful for.

6.  Living with PD has taught me to be more pro-active about my health.  I keep up with the latest research and always go to my doctor with a list of questions and concerns.  This is probably the most important thing that I have learned in the last few years.   My internist jokes that I know more about PD than he does.  

5.  All of the new friends that I have made who also have PD.  We can laugh and cry together about things that non-Parkies would never understand.  Last January I started a group for women with PD in the Los Angeles area.  As we have gotten to know each other, friendships have blossomed.  We really do have a special bond because of PD.

4.   Fortunately I have a slowly progressing form of PD, which is controlled by meds.  Better living through Chemistry is my mantra.  And my progression continues to be very slow.  And for that I am very thankful.

3.  Laughing with PD.  When all else fails, I can always blame stupid things I do on that !?@$#  tremor.  Enough said…..

2.  Loving with PD means cherishing the life my husband and I have together and making adjustments as we need to when that @$#% Tremor gets in the way again.  Our third grandchild was born in July, adding to the joy in our family.  We are truly blessed.

1.  Living with PD has enabled me to reach out to others like you, hopefully making all of our lives just a little bit better.  I thank all of you for your support over the last year and I hope that we will continue the dialogue for many years to come.