Thankful on Thanksgiving

FULL SPEED AHEAD, DAMN THE PARKINSON'S AND PASS THE STUFFING,

Got Parkinson's Disease (PD)?  I do! I am a 55 year old male that received that difficult diagnosis at age 49 after displaying symptoms for many many months. Yes, it is a tough diagnosis to receive.  But you know what, especially to all the newly diagnosed, I WOULD NOT CHANGE PLACES WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD. NOBODY. PERIOD! How can I say that with such conviction and certainty? Because I mean it! First and foremost is family, then friends. They have not changed, their support continues to grow.  That is what I am thankful for.  Everything else in life is just details.

Let's face it, PD is an insidious disease, it stinks, but I refuse to let it get the better of me. In fact, I fight back. 6 1/2 years into this disease I am not just surviving, I am thriving, living with the belief that I DON'T HAVE PD, IT HAS ME, AND IT SHOULD BE VERY AFRAID.  Why? Because we are AT SEA again, and this voyage is a big one - From RI to Canada and down the Eastern seaboard to the Florida Keys. Then we cross the Bermuda Triangle to the Bahamas, Abacos, Exumas, all the way down to the Turks and Caicos. Where's that exactly?  On a map just to the right of Cuba and 11 months and 9000 nautical miles by the time we return to RI next June.

And you are doing this despite having PD?  NO, I'm doing this because it is fun and to SPITE PD!  I am the captain and I fondly call my wife Becky, "The Admiral", We have no crew.  I call this "walking the walk".  I am not simply talking a good story about my fight against PD, but displaying it, all the while promoting awareness of PD.

This is the link to a very short video of me sponsored by the APDA.  This 4 minute film further explains my mission to spread awareness of the disease and the power of OPTIMISM in fighting this insidious disease affecting 1.6 million Americans.

https://vimeo.com/user4066563/review/67474915/2563535280  

Yes, a long link, but you can also get to the video from my blog: Optimismtour.blogspot.com

To close, 6 1/2 years after Dr. F gave me the diagnosis I remain convinced that part of my well!-being is embracing my current thought of the day:

NOBODY EVER WENT BLIND LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!