If there is one thing Parkinson's Disease has taught me, it is that life is simple. I used to have earrings, shoes and handbags that matched all my outfits, now I can't put the earrings in, I only wear Velcro sneakers and my purse is a fanny pack. Simple.
I used to put on eyeliner and mascara, but the Goth look isn't flattering on a 50+ year old woman, so now I don't wear any. Simple.
My clothes were home made, designed by me, with intricate buttons and ties and fit perfectly. No more, now its jeans, tank tops and blouses knotted at the waist. Simple.
I used to order steak, rice pilaf and veggies at restaurants, I still order steak, but my Wonderful Husband cuts it for me and I stick to side dishes that can be eaten with fingers. Simple.
I used to wear jewelry, lots of it, but can't manipulate the clasps now and I don't miss it a bit. The same can be said for styling my hair, it gets combed and that's about it. Simple.
My days start at 4 or 5 am and end at 11 pm, during those 18+ hours, I go through a range of symptoms and I make my life as easy as possible for me. I have chairs that fit me, not some grand design, my floors are rug free so I don't trip, I have a set of lightweight plastic dishes that I use and my pill bottles are lined up on the counter next to the fridge so I can get to them easily. Simple.
My Wonderful Husband understands when I take a nap at 9 am, when he's just got up and made the bed at 8. Our days are not regimented except for my meds. We generally 'wing it'. Simple.
You should try it.
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!
I asked several of my fellow Parkies to come up with good things about having Parkinson's Disease, turns out they have a sense of humor, too. Here are some of their replies and a few of my own:
My husband dusts the knick-knacks in the china cabinet, I was breaking too many of them.
I don't even notice when the batteries die in the electric toothbrush, because I shake so much.
I get new dishes every few months because I break so many of them.
I got all new shirts with snaps instead of buttons.
No one thinks twice when I drink wine in a sippy cup.
I get a parking permit.
Elastic waist pants and over-sized T shirts.
They send me to watch football with the guys on Thanksgiving instead of helping in the kitchen.
I have a great excuse to not shave my legs anymore.
When I fall down, while I am laying on the floor, I check for dust bunnies under the furniture.
Someone else checks the eggs at the grocery store and picks the oranges off the fancy pyramid stacker.
I don't need a blender to make a margarita, I shake enough on my own.
I never get asked to pour the wine or champagne or even the iced tea at dinner.
No one will open the can of beer or cola I just got from the refrigerator.
I don't get asked to change diapers or feed babies.
Velcro shoes.
The young kids want to learn how I do "The Shake" dance.
I can ShakeNBake like no body else. This particular comment, inspired a new song parody:
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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!
