I am haunted by unremitting waves of helplessness that threaten to engulf the futile thread of hope to which I cling – hope that I could somehow ease the pain pulsating through my daughter's veins. She has suffered a loss like no other: the death of her little girl - a brave, remarkable and stunningly beautiful child who died over six years ago, shortly after her fourth birthday. I silently witness my daughter facing each day without her daughter, resolutely putting one f

Written Aug 2010 Published in The Globe & Mail Oct 2010 Feigning an air of confidence to conceal the raging disquiet inside, I scanned the restaurant and headed for a table near the back, where I could observe him searching for the forty-something woman with whom he had shared a few words on the telephone. He had neither met me nor seen a photograph. The year was 1986, long before the advent of online dating. I had purposely arrived early to give myself time to adopt th

Early in 2024 I decided to compile a list of essays that I had written – primarily (though not entirely) about living with Parkinson’s. I was motivated by my experience in dealing with the challenges over 21 years, and my success in finding solutions – usually through my writing. I enlisted the help of my computer-guru son, who guided me through the editing, the designing of the cover and finally the printing. It was much more time-consuming than I expected but it was we

Written about 2023 “Honey, what was it about my personal ad that caught your attention?” I ask, reaching for his hand across the table...

Written December 2023 April 2023 - My Journal Entry I am being pulled into a vortex where every movement takes supreme effort, as if I...

This is a story written 7 years ater i was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and the attempts I made to learn about the disease and to cope...

behinkd the positivity lies hidden feelings of embarrassment

Written Dwcember 2023 Life sometimes has a strange way of teaching us what we need to know. In my pre-retirement, pre Parkinson’s days...

The personal strengths I have acquired over my lifetime have combined to help me manage the difficult times

A lifetime of experience has given me the confidence to be more assertive

I I recently came across a talk given by Jane Fonda. She describe s what she calls the 'third ct'

“Wonderful!!” the instructor enthuses. ‘wonderful’ doesn’t really describe.our movements.

I learned first hand how it feels to be excluded.

what makes it so enjoyable is the camaraderie that exists between us