Why is navigating a boat a lot like dealing with Parkinson's?

     Here is a photo of our chart plotter from a week ago, it is suppose to show the correct course for safe water.  The white areas are suppose to have enough water for safe passage, the light blue is marginal water depth at best and the darker blue is water too shallow to float the boat. The light magenta colored line running down the middle of the white to the left of the boat is supposedly the NOAA charted safe route and what we are suppose to follow; and the dark red line is the computer telling me I am driving into danger and to turn left quick. Last, the black dotted line is our actual course. As you can see it appears we are way off course heading towards the marsh and/or running aground on lighter green island.  What the plotter did NOT show was a very thin 30-40' wide sliver of just-deep-enough water between the far red marker and the marsh directly above it - right where there is suppose to be no water at all. So we SLOWLY eased past that last red marker to the edge of the marsh and did a hard left turn.  Had we navigated solely by this supposedly state-of-the-art system and NOAA guidance we would have been high and dry and damaged by running aground.  Oh, and the white area that is suppose to have plenty of water, it had sea gulls standing in the middle of it.   Most important and for the record, The Admiral navigated this one while I drove during heavy rain, she earned her pay that day.  

What's my point in all this and what the heck does this have to do with Parkinson's?  This navigation hazard has been a boon for local tow boat and salvage companies but to me this poorly marked shoal is like fighting Parkinsons. You must ADAPT!

•  Keep your wits about you and take control of the issue, not visa-versa; I guarantee you the tail does not wag this dog.
• Look for every opportunity to keep moving forward. We certainly could not stay where we were on that river.  Push on!  Kinda like doing physical therapy or yoga if you have PD.
• Don't believe everything you read on a chart plotter or the doom and gloom you read on the web about Parkinson's.  Surround yourself with positive energy and think optimistically.  
• Opportunities to overcome a challenge may exist but they are often well hidden, you have to work hard and look hard.  Just like volunteering for drug studies for Parkie's, exercise, physical therapy.  
• Don't be afraid to push yourself and take that calculated risk.  I did not know if the water was deep enough at the last turn, but my confidence in Becky with her watching the plotter, color and speed of the water, shape of the waves, etc. all lead to a good decision. It worked.  

Oh, while we navigated this little challenge did I think about Parkinson's?  NOPE.

I encourage all Parkinson patients out there to take a swing at the disease today, if only today and maybe, just maybe, you will surprise yourself and bloody Parkinson's nose.  Trust me, it feels good. REAL GOOD.  

To close.  It has been a very hectic 2 weeks home for the holidays.  I return to the boat on 12/31 as friends and brother Bill join me for some segments.  I promise more updates.  

THIS IS A GUEST ARTICLE WRITTEN BY A COLLEAGUE OF BOB PRESTON:

My name is Ed Dias. I am 51 years old and have had PD since 1996. By July, 2003, my symptoms were now a real problem and I became a ‘victim/patient’. Around Christmas 2009, I changed my mind – I decided to live again. I learned how to live in the now and make the most out of each moment of time. If you give it a chance, you will find that life can still be quite satisfying.

This is a state of mind I developed long ago. I remember sitting in the waiting room at my dentist’s office. He was running late and I was just sitting, looking around the room. I noticed this huge clock on the wall. It was your basic white with black numbers and dials. The second hand was red. I’m watching it and suddenly the clearest thought enters my head. “Time is always moving whether you like it or not. Regardless of your health, state of mind, or mood, it’s moving. So figure out a way to enjoy it”.

See, we are presented with decisions every day. Daily choices are the building blocks of our future. The positions we find ourselves in are a direct result of the choices we made in the past. Some choices are made based on prior experiences, motivation for a future goal, our mood of the moment, or that ‘funny’ feeling.

For me, I choose to enjoy the ride. I have learned that along with good faith and good intentions all disappointments are opportunities in disguise. Have you ever been late for an appointment and met someone fascinating who arrived early for their appointment?

Everyone with PD has their own customized version. So what, who cares? Hearing about someone else’s agony doesn’t make any one of us any better. So why give the disease any attention? It’s like feeding oxygen to a fire. Eliminate the oxygen and the fire cannot exist. Hmm, maybe I’m on to something.

I still pretty much do whatever I want, despite my new limitations. I play roller hockey every week with longtime friends and burn out after 60 to 90 minutes. Sure, I used to be able to play longer but now on hockey nights, I get home early enough to say goodnight to my kids and have a late dinner with my wife. By the way, the so called “friends” I play with, give me zero slack. I am treated like everybody else and for 90 minutes I feel like everybody else – just want to put more pucks in their net than they put in ours.

Hope you enjoyed reading this and maybe I’ll write again soon.

Ed

Edward Dias

Investment Adviser Representative

860 963 7466

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!

Here's reminder of what we are doing and why... THANK YOU!

     A big thank you to all that have helped us cross the $250,000 raised to date for Parkinson's disease research and patient support.  100% of all donations go directly Patient Services, as we pay 100% of our campaign expenses out of our own pocket.

Featured Article with Sabre Yachts - Wasabi Green with Envy

     Recreational boating has evolved in last few generations.  In my parents era it was the “men against the sea” generation.  My mother pretended to enjoy boating but we all knew she was more comfortable with both feet firmly planted on shore. On the surface she put on her game face and somehow managed to survive our annual summer cruises along the foggy coast of Maine in our early 1960’s 29′ wooden Pacemaker.  She was a saint to put up with all of us, my father, two sisters, a brother, and Crystal our Dalmatian.

  

     Times and attitudes have changed for the better.  Couples’ who are deciding if boating is a lifestyle they are committed to, are now doing so as partners.  Are they looking for a canoe to quietly paddle around small pond and enjoy the sun sets in the western sky?  Are they competitive sailors immersed into the sport of one design racing?  Maybe they enjoy picnics with the children and grandchildren on a Saturday afternoon in a power boat which is comfortable enough to be cruised after the grand kids are safely buckled into their car seats and heading back home. 

     Whatever the decision,  today more couples are making them together, as a team.  Sabre and Back Cove have been lucky to have found such a team in Becky and Bob Preston. We were introduced to them when they fell in love with the Back Cove 33 and Petzold’s Yacht Sales in Portland, CT.  Shortly thereafter, they teamed up once again with Back Cove and commissioned a Back Cove 37.  Both boats are very distinctive.  If by chance you find a Wasabi Green Back Cove 33 or a 37 running along the east coast you have found one of the Preston’s formerly loved boats.  Becky and Bob commissioned their first Sabre late this summer.  FAMILY TIES III, is a Sabre 48 (hull #038) and she is ….Wasabi Green.  This fall they are heading to the Sunshine state for the winter and plan to spend most of their time on board.

     Bob and Sabre are very fortunate to have Becky Preston in our lives. For Bob, she is relatively new to boating compared to him and she is passionate about it. She plays an active role in all aspects of the boat and their cruising.  Her belief is that “it is important for the mate to know how to handle the boat”.  I didn’t dare ask who the captain is and who the mate is, but I believe it is safe to assume they share those roles.  For Sabre, we are fortunate to have Becky as part of the family.  She commented, “All along the Sabre 48 was my favorite boat and I helped push Bob along to reach that same conclusion”.  Now that is a solid partnership that works for the Prestons’ and Sabre!

     Most of the time while running Becky and Bob support one another to ensure safe passage and enjoying their time on board.  You will find them sitting next to each other with one of them at the helm while the other is navigating.  In bad weather Becky typically finds herself as the helms person and Bob is the navigator.

Whenever possible the Prestons’ will anchor while cruising.  Becky is as comfortable at anchor as she is in a slip.  She loves ducking into Seal Bay on Vinalhaven Island, in Maine, for its unique peaceful nights where the stars are bright in the sky above to anchoring in the Bahamas where the water is so clear that you can spend hours looking over the rail at the star fish below.

     The Sabre 48, her “favorite boat”, has creature comforts that help her therapeutically in a sense. She has her sanctuary, in of all places, the crew quarters. As Becky says, “that’s my part of the boat”.  Other Sabre 48 owners have made similar comments about the crew quarters. It is a unique space that is fun to show off at boat shows.  For Becky she has customized the space for her sewing machine and equipment.  They also have the washer and drier and a television in there as well. 

     The Prestons’ have two grown children, no grandchildren yet, but their daughter and her husband have a foster child.  Her name is Hannah.  While on a weekend cruise to Nantucket earlier this fall, Hannah proudly proclaimed the crew quarters as “her room”. 

     Recreational boating has changed in so many ways in such a short period of time.  The days with the attitude of “men against the sea” are giving way to couples, families, and friends actually getting pleasure from pleasure boating.  Advances in on board systems have made boating safer.  Couples such as Becky and Bob Preston work together to learn these systems that are changing the way we boat.  Thank you Becky for having faith in the Sabre family and being passionate about a lifestyle you and Bob share.

You can follow Becky and Bob’s adventures by visiting http://optimismtour.blogspot.com/

"No Wake Zone"

I ignore one lousy "5mph No Wake" speed zone and they send out the 7th fleet????

Got Milk?

 

Wanna know what's the most dangerous portion of our trip?

Would it be crossing the Bermuda Triangle? Nope;

Ferocious storms, hurricanes or striking something in the water? Not even close, last guess.....Pirates and other nit-wits? Nah, Mr's Smith and Wesson are aboard.

The answer, hopping on your bike and going out for milk! Yup, the grocery store is usually couple of miles down the road, no bike lane, unfamiliar roads, cars wizzing by 2-3' away. Plus they sense I'm a Yankee, and the locals think Savannah is still burning. Think of it as driving down Rt 2, near the malls, it's dusk and you have a Red Sox Stink sticker on you bike. Get the idea?