Poster Boy for Parkinson’s?

“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.

Two days later, I was asked to record a “20 Questions” session at church with the youth group. They had invited a good friend of mine to share his wisdom in a Q & A interview. As I was engrossed in the recording process, it didn’t register at first that I was answer to one of the questions. The question was, “Name 2 people in the church you admire most”, or something to that effect. When my friend answered with my name, it took awhile before it sunk in. For some reason, I thought a trick was being played on me.

It was not a trick. As my friend completed his answer, he called me the “poster boy for Parkinson’s”. Was that just another coincidence? All this happened within 48 hours. As the saying goes, “timing is everything”.

Richard & Christie - Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone N.P. August 2021

All of this was made more curious by other factors. Namely, we returned home from a 2 1/2 week hiking vacation in Montana and Wyoming September 1st and I had been struggling to deal with the gloom that had taken firm hold of me. But, hearing friends praise me and my resilience in the face of the incurable monster known as PD, I was humbled and inspired. It was just what I needed to hear and it was perfect timing, too.

So, I take up the title and stay the course! My essential weapons in the fight continue to be medication, intense exercise, nutrition, hydration and adequate sleep. Fighting back against an enemy like PD takes constant vigilance, too. It is game on EVERY DAY and no time off for good behavior. Our vacation activity reflected that thinking.

We saw Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks mostly on foot doing day hikes. Our photos are shared here to illustrate that point. And, hopefully convince others that it is possible to continue an active lifestyle, even 8 years after that dreaded diagnosis, “you have Parkinson’s Disease”. And, even while approaching your 70th birthday! Just keep moving.