In the spring of 2017, I found myself imagining retirement years filled with travel across the country visiting national parks. Lots of hiking and camping with my wife, Christie, in places we have always wanted to visit. Sound familiar? Not really an unusual plan and one that seemed very feasible. Well, that was before I went down a rabbit hole “building a teardrop camper from a kit”.

“You are the poster boy for Parkinson’s” is exactly what they said. Was it a coincidence?

Sunday, I was considering a new journal entry titled “Poster Boy for Parkinson’s?”. Then Monday, a friend asked me to speak to someone recently diagnosed with PD because, as she said, “you are the “poster boy for Parkinson’s”. Immediately I thought that was an unusual coincidence.

It is a mysterious acronym, even among cyclists. What is stands for is on the back of this truck. A 7-day ride in late July across Iowa that annually attracts over 15,000 bicycle enthusiasts. This year would be my second time to ride in it.

How best to describe the year 2020? It has been a trying time for people everywhere, but a good time to “count my blessings” and be thankful it wasn’t worse. Better to avoid self-pity and accept the sad times as best I can. Those sad times include my father-in-law, Jim Kamos, dying in early September, then my brother, Ralph, that same month and a 45 year old nephew, Dennis Orange, in November.