Twitchy Woman: My Adventures with Parkinson's

Last week, in response to Dr. Michael Okun’s statement urging us to tell our stories, I published one story written by Linda (last name withheld). Immediately, I started getting emails, texts and even handwritten letters sent by mail, telling me how reading Linda’s story had a very powerful effect on them.

Today, I am featuring another story, this time done in Haiku, that I hope you will enjoy as much. Please consider sending your story to me so that I can share it. It can be prose, poetry, a cartoon, song lyrics, anything that you want to share about living with PD.

Parkinku

My Parkinson’s Story by Mimi Dollinger

I first heard the word “haiku” in elementary school. Three-line poems, with 5 syl-la-bles (not words) on the first line, 7 syllables on the second, and 5 syllables on the third. A poetry style that originated in Japan and said something about flowers or frogs or something in nature.

Then fifty years later — four years after my diagnosis of late-onset Parkinson’s Disease — I learned that haiku could also be about people, and specifically about people with Parkinson’s Disease. You can read the rest of the backstory here

I can’t end my story without sharing a few examples of my parkinku.  I hope parkinku will have a place in your journey with PD.

my Forest Gump

box of chocolates had

Parkinson’s inside

hand tremor adds

extra vowels to every

word I typeeeee

I can fall asleep

middle of meal, movie, chat –

anywhere but bed

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Laugh at my Mom

Order your t-shirt before the sale disappears!

We have 2 great designs for you – but if you don’t act fast, they will disappear until next winter.

Finally, at our meeting the other day about attending the WPC,

Have a great week