YumaBev gets new glasses

Optical, dental, pharmacies line the roads

When I was in Mexico last week, I got an eye exam and new glasses. Just like Pharmacies and Dentists, Optical Shops are prevalent in Algodones. I didn't need a change for distance, but I did need a change for close-up (easier to get new glasses than lengthen my arms). This particular change has nothing to do with Parkinson's Disease, it, unfortunately means I'm just getting older. Darn, I can't blame it on the PD!

Lots of frames

We got there early, and surprise, the Algodones Optical Shop was already open, so I had a chance to try on some new frames before the optician arrived at 8:30am. They have frames of every size, shape and price range. I tried on a few and then got called into the exam room.


First he checked my pressures for glaucoma, they were good. He had me read the distance chart and began the usual "Which is clearer, lens A or B?" routine. Next he handed me the small print card, and my hands promptly began to shake. My tremors aren't bad, unless I am holding something in my hand with my elbow bent. I don't read books for this reason and I read the newspaper with it laying flat on the dining room table, so I don't have to hold it. Finally, he held the card for me and we got to where I could read the smallest type. He sent me out to pick out frames.

Rows of frames

Picking out new frames is difficult, and I rely on my Wonderful Husband to choose what looks best. He hates this, but I tell him he sees me more than anyone, so I only care if he likes them. I tried on dozens and we finally settled on a smaller frame than what I usually wear. I found a duplicate and gave both to the girl behind the counter (it was buy one, get one free). 

Not these frames

Not these frames

The Optician came back over, took some measurements and I was done. I decided to add some tint to one pair and asked to have my old glasses made into sunglasses. They said my new glasses would be ready in 2 hours, so I left and went to my Dentist appointment.

When I was done at the Dentist, all 3 were ready, my 2 new pair and new "old" sunglasses. They did some final adjustments, gave me a couple of cases and cleaning cloths and I wrote them a check for $50 (now you know why I go there). I checked out my new sunglasses and my brand new ones. I really like them, Hubby did good!

new frames

new sunglasses

We strolled the sidewalk where you line up to leave Mexico and headed back across the border. 

In winter, there are people for blocks 

Not a bad day, walked over at 8:15am, got Rx, new glasses and teeth cleaned and walked back at 11:30.

Clicking on colored words will open a new window with another story or link.

Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!

YumaBev goes to the Dentist

While I was in Mexico last week, I went to the Dentist for a cleaning. I have a lot of teeth in my mouth, 30 to be exact, and I don't have a big mouth (despite what my Parents said), so cleaning my teeth can be a challenge. The Parkinson's Disease makes it difficult for me to obey commands, my jaw and tongue have a mind of their own, so I need a tech with a sense humor and who's not afraid of being bitten.

I'm not sure how many Dentists occupy the small town of Algodones, but I'd guess it's close to 100. The Dental offices are right next to each other. You can get everything from a simple cleaning to fillings, dentures, and even implants, all done at very reasonable prices, compared to USA. I had a crown replaced several years ago for about $200.

Dental row, one of many

Appointment times are subjective in Mexico, if your appointment is at 10, the Dentist might not show up until 11, so you need to be a patient patient.  I was lucky on this day, the Dental Assistant (probably a recent Dental School Grad) was there when I arrived and I only had to wait 30 minutes to be taken back to the room. She was very pretty with perfectly straight white teeth and long thick dark curly hair, it was like having a super-model clean my teeth. Too bad she wasn't a he, it would have been more fun for me.

My Dentist

The exam room looked just like every other Dentist office I have ever been to. They give you dark shades to wear, so the bright light doesn't hurt your eyes. They put Vasoline on your lips, so they don't crack from having your mouth wide open and they put a real towel under the paper one that clips around your neck, so your shirt doesn't get all wet. At my last visit to a USA Dentist (which was 6 months ago), they did none of this.

typical dental tray 

The first thing she did was hang the suction tube thingy on my lip. It promptly fell off. She tried again and it fell off, so I reached my hand up and held it in place for the rest of the visit (you can't expect a Dental Tech to have 3 hands). Then she went to work, trying to wrangle the mirror and ultra-sonic wand around my moving tongue and lips. She kept asking me to open my mouth and to turn my head towards her. I didn't realize I was doing the opposite. She had a very difficult time reaching the back teeth, but managed somehow and I did NOT bite her, so it was a successful visit. 

My guess is she will call in sick the next time I have an appointment. She wouldn't be the first. The reason I have 30 teeth is my teeth don't want to come out. The two I had extracted proved so difficult for the oral surgeons, they asked me to never come back!

Dental Health is important if you have Parkinson's Disease and taking care of your teeth can be challenging, so I go regularly for cleanings and exams.  I use a power toothbrush and floss picks, since I have dexterity problems, but I still have all my fingers.

Clicking on colored words in any story will take you to another story or article.

Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!

YumaBev goes to Mexico

The walk over to Mexico

We took a trip to Mexico. The small border town of Algodones is just 25 miles away, so we park on the USA side and just walk over. Once you cross into Mexico, the hawkers start their chants: "Need a Dentist?", "Need Glasses?", "Best prices on drugs" are standard ones. Then there are those who have a sense of humor: "Leather purses, made from real cows" or "Gold chains, almost free" and my favorite "Pretty dresses, for teenager like you".  The sidewalks are uneven, the alleys are narrow and the hawkers sometimes get too close. I'm afraid of falling, so it's stressful.  If I didn't have Parkinson's Disease, I might enjoy it and look around, but I am in a hurry to get what I need and get back to the USA.

Mary's sells everything

Why go there? Because Algodones is filled with Dentists, Pharmacies and Optical shops. You can buy leather goods, jewelry, liquor, pottery, clothes, hats, paintings, etc.  You name it and Algodones probably has it and some of it is actually made in Mexico.  And you can buy all these items cheap, sometimes one tenth of what it would cost in the USA.

Shelves full of medicines

I went to get medication for my Rosacea (red face) and $20 is a much better price than $85. The medicine is made by the same Big Pharma, the only difference is the instructions are in Spanish.

Even Viagra is available

First time visitors are shocked by the Pharmacies, long shelves of medicines and sign boards outside with prices. No prescriptions needed, but there are limits to how much you can bring back to the USA, so we make several trips each year. Some folks go every few weeks.    

Getting in takes minutes, getting out can take hours depending on the time of year. When my step-daughter was here in February, it took 2 1/2 hours to get up to the gate, today there was no line at all.

No line to get out on this trip

It was a hot and slow day in Algodones, even the watch dog was sleeping, but the hawkers were more gregarious than usual, so I didn't stop to look at purses or hats.  I didn't even get a cinnamon roll, the bakery has closed for the summer.

Let sleeping dogs lie, but take a photo, might come in handy

I did go to the Dentist and got some new glasses, but I'll tell you about those adventures another day. After my foreign excursion, what I really wanted was lunch and a nap (and I got both).

Que tenga un excelente día - Have a great day (in Spanish) 

Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon or your favorite online book seller.  Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!

Day Two of my Vacation from Parkinson's Disease

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, Day Two of my vacation from Parkinson's Disease started at 6:40 am, when leg cramps jolted me awake (I guess they didn't get the NO PD memo). I did my usual morning stuff and we picked Lynn up at her hotel at 10 am and headed for Algodones, a little Mexico border town about 10 miles from Yuma, AZ. (IF you are lost, read Day One of my Vacation )

future Rodeo star?

Lynn wanted to look for a new purse, some medicine and jewelry (all available at bargain prices).   As we started across the border, my left foot decided to cramp (I guess it didn't get the NO PD memo either).  I figured we'd be out of there by noon, I was wrong. At 2 pm, we found a bakery and had jumbo fresh baked cinnamon rolls for 70 cents each. The only picture I took was a humorous one of a little boy riding a dog.  It was too crowded to take pictures of her shopping so I found places to sit as Lynn and her Dad shopped.  


We wandered around and around and Lynn got right into the bargaining spirit that is the way of life in Mexico.  She happily scored a real leather purse, several bracelets and some very nice necklaces for "better than cheap stuff at Walmart" prices and picked up some gifts for friends back at home in Orlando. She bought some antibiotics for her dog and some fancy face cream for herself and her Dad picked up a bottle of Kahlua for a neighbor.  It was 4 pm and we decided to leave.    

Step-daughter Lynn in Mexico

Oops, there was a line to get back through the Border and it was FOUR blocks long.  We stood in line, well, honestly, Lynn and her Dad stood in line. I would find a bench up ahead and sit down and wait for them to catch up to me and then repeat the process. Most of the people in line had gray hair and were giving me funny looks as I sat, but I didn't care.  It took 2 hours to get out of Mexico. Lynn posed on a bench and let me take an official picture of her in Mexico.  


After we finally got back to the USA, we took Lynn to Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que for dinner and then came back to the house.  We sat around and visited until 11 pm when we took her back to the hotel.


I had survived Day Two of my Parkinson's vacation (kind of).

Thank you for reading this story, I hope you enjoyed it. This is just one of a hundred stories in my book, Parkinson's Humor - Funny Stories about My Life with Parkinson's Disease. Please consider purchasing a copy from Amazon.com or your favorite online book seller. Thank you and have a Happy Parkie Day!