Born April 26, 1947, I've lived with Parkinson's since 1987.  I have been and in my opinion still am, very fortunate with this disease.  Hopefully, there will be people from all walks of life reading my website.  My intention is to (1) share with the reader in such a way that you leave knowing more about the disease but not so overwhelmed that you don't want to go any further with it; (2)to encourage every one of you to make a difference in the world in whatever arena you are involved in or affected by.  If I've learned anything these past few years, it's that everyone has their own personal agenda, as it should be.  But don't do as I did...I wasted  almost 11 years of valuable "feeling good" time when I could have been working for the cure to this horrendous disease.  Whatever your agenda, get off and on...time's so valuable.   (3) There's much more to me and much more that I want to share than PD.  If you find me boring, then turn me off...if you find me a little bit interesting for heavens sake, TELL ME! LOL

I could, and I think I will one day, write a book.  Most lives are unique and very interesting.  If one takes the time to reflect and gain wisdom of sorts from the mistakes they made and then attempt to share that wisdom...then their life had meaning.  If only one person was helped along the way, their life was not lived in vain. 

Gary and I were married in April of 1968 right after he returned from Vietnam.  In the following 14 years, we lived in Texas, Germany and then back to Knoxville.  We had two children while he was in the army and they were still in diapers when we became civilians.  For many reasons, (when I write the book I'll go into detail LOL), our marriage failed.  In retrospect, I can tell you however, it took both of us for it to fail. It takes two to make it and two to break it.  We were divorced in December of 1981 and for all intents and purposes, I became a divorcee with two children...what is thoughtfully referred to today as a "Single Mom".  Gary was a good Dad always!  But being a single mom was no picnic.  I know for a fact I made many mistakes as a parent but thank God, He always pulled us through.  During the 14 years that I was single, I was once  married to a man that was 20 years older than me.  We made a deal that I thought would work.  Ney ney, she says emphatically!  It seemed so simple!  He'd put my kids through college and I would take care of him in he failing years.  The marriage, if you could call it that, lasted three years. 

I don't want to go on and on so I'll summarize the remainder of my life up to this point.  Gary and I have been back together now for almost 8 years...married for 6 of those years.  He's now my hero!  A strong, compassionate, loving man that I adore.  He's my very best friend and I thank God we're back in each other's life. 

In May of 2000, I was forced by this disease to retire on disability.  Another era of my life that has taught and is teaching me aspects of love, life and endurance that never ceases to amaze me.  I have met people who have the patience of Job, the perseverance of Moses and the faith that I can only hope to have.  I hope to share some of what I have learned in an entertaining if not interesting manner within these few pages.  Sometimes my humor is so dry that I'm the only one who "gets it "...so you will see LOL  (laugh out loud) used quite often in my writing.  It's as much a disclaimer as it is anything! LOL