Parkinson's by Rishab

Well, the way I describe Parkinsons is a disease which doesn’t express yourself to the fullest, it limits your abilities. This is what you have maa, and I know it is hard to live life. You have us though, and we will help you trough the hard times.

                I really don’t like Parkinsons, especially since my maa has it. I remember on our vacation to Duck, maa was feeling bad for most of the trip. I felt so bad that maa didn’t get to enjoy the trip. As I said earlier, Parkinsons doesn’t let you live to the fullest. Maa didn’t live to the fullest on that vacation.

                I’m so glad that maa doesn’t have advanced Parkinsons, or she would be shaking all the time. Some of the most famous people, such as Michael J. Fox, and Muhammad Ali, have Advanced Parkinsons. They cannot even walk straight. Even the most infamous people, like Adolf Hitler had Parkinsons. Parkinsons is not an uncommon disease, but I don’t know why it had to happen to maa.

                I thank god that Parkinsons is not fatal. I would do anything to get maa out of that disease, even if it meant waling a thousand miles. She is the best mom ever, and she acts so nice and caring around me. I especially like our text conversations. Maa, I love you, and I would do anything in the world for you.

Parkinson's by Ranai

( I had asked Ranai my 9 year old to write what PD means to him and this is what he said) 

Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a disease, a brain disease .Parkinson is a type of brain disease, and many people suffer from this disease not to mention my mom. :( . Parkinson’s is a type of disease of the brain, you‘re not able to move so fast and you are not able to really well play sport etc.

Parkinson’s is a very strong brain disease, it is so sad to see someone like this it is not a good sight. :( .I think personally that it is not fair that my mom has this because she is so loving and caring it is not fair! I don’t even understand why there are diseases it just makes someone suffer. (tebowing for a brief moment).

I really think diseases such as Parkinson should be erased. I wish that all diseases had a cure already but Parkinson doesn’t it is sad! :( .Well I told you how I feel about Parkinson’s and other diseases.

Oh dear! My brain's gone AWOL!!!

Those darn dopamine cells.... sure do have a "mind" of their own.  Doing the vanishing act without asking you... I mean how rude is that.... and they decide to let u know after a majority of them decide to quit ... yup about 80% of them.  I mean are they not bound by work ethics..like giving you some notice or heads up that they want to quit? Hmm wondering if I can sue them....Lawyers...any takers?

If you are wondering what am I ranting about...here's the scoop .... I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2004 when I was 36 years... and Parkinson's happens when the brain cells that make 'Dopamine" die and are not reproduced....and what does "dopamine" do... well it is responsible for all your cognitive, emotional, and motor functions, also speech, thought etc....

And 'cos I did not want to believe it my doc let me take pics of my brain.... I mean, I love taking pics of me..but this..hmmm and that too in full color no less... Did u know your right side of brain controls your left side of the body and vice versa...I did not till I saw a nice color pic of my brain. My tremors started on my left side, so my right side showed an alarmingly low count of cells and my left side of the brain had also started on it's drain.....Dang.. This was in 2006 I think.

So here is my rationale, my own skewed version of why I have Parkinson's:) Are you ready to hear it.... Brace urself...

See I am bad enuf with only 10% of my brain functioning....can u imagine what wud happen with the rest 90% being functional? :) The world is not ready for me yet:)) Sigh tough being smart and beautiful, oh yeah and very modest too:)))

http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/gnn_images/news_content/12_01/Parkinsons/Parkinsons_2.gif

No, this is NOT a picture of my brain:)) I took this off the internet

I am a Fraud..Yep:)

So with it being the end of the year and all, i thought it best to cleanse my soul, bust some myths about me and correct some assumptions:) Yup confession time...so pre warned....brace urself, this piece will shatter your opinion about me ..... r u ready.... oh ur hmm k:P

Some people have the mistaken impression that I am an intellectual, highly read person....ahemmmm....I love my steamy romances and fast paced mystery books....no philosophy or heavy reading...honestly they put me to sleep. I am not highly educated as far as traditional education...just a Bachelors... in fact the first time I ever saw a sign of respect in anyone's eyes when I mentioned I had a Bachelor's was here in the US...In India I would be looked down upon.... not that I care:)

I am strong:) Well emotionally that is, physically it would be funny as I weigh in less than 100 pounds and all of 5ft 4....but even e being strong emotionally is not true..... I am terrified hmmm actually no am petrified at what my future holds as far as my health is concerned....and if by now you do not know that I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 36 in 2004, where the heck have u been....I have been whining about that forever...Maybe I am a master at denial.... that is it...

Unselfish.... yea that I am not, ...ask my hubby and he will laugh you out of town...He has known me for twenty plus years and says I am very selfish so...maybe he is right? Yes I am selfish, when it comes to food:P Yup food....love to eat, and esp chocolates or desserts....I have a very strict no sharing policy and have no shame or hesitation in admitting it... Yes I am selfish as I love to get compliments, accolades, appreciation...yup I do....

Another thing people think when they see me is that I am very confident and modern and and that I can do whatever I want....uh wroonggg....I have my share of insecurities, my failures, lotsa weak points, may look modern but at heart a lil old fashioned and traditional, like simple things in life and am basically low maintenance:) I did term yself an emotional doormat which I was...but am learning now....

Ok so what am I.... I am at heart, a simple traditional gal, with an open mind, non judgemental, believe in human goodness, am talkative, loyal, beautiful inside and out, friendly, narcissisist, geek, love to learn new things, like to keep myself busy, am more happier working outside the house rather than inside the house.  I thrive on interaction, love my gadgets, am delighted when given a bunch of wires and trying to connect them, am passionate, stubborn uh actually letme rephrase strong willed, like to laugh at me and at the world:) And yup not modest cos here is what I believe

Am confident of who i am, know most of my faults and strengths, cannot stand artificial people, honestly, I wud not know how to respond...

Am a straight shooter...with me usually I will tell u exactly what is on my mind..gud, bad or ugly....

Oh yea am a sentimental fool and very sensitive too....

You know we all want to hide our selves, our fears, our insecurities, our vulnerabilities, for fear of being manipulated. People go to a lot of effort to hide their true face from the world....and tell me very often....why are u baring your heart, why are u sharing your pain with Parkinson's...do u think people care?

And there in lies the biggest myth of all...I share not for others but for me, for my sake....I am a sharer and it helps me feel better to share....

So there you have it Sutapa Unplugged:))

Zindagi...Life

(My first attempt to write in Hindi) 

zindagi bus kuch pal ke liye hoti hai

lekin hum woh bhi gam main gawah dete hai

kyu na hum khush rahe apni duniya main

apni choti choti khushiyan ko leke 

aur apni gham ko bhula de

humare man main jo hai 

hum usse isehaar nahi karte

apna pyar, apna gam, apne dil ke baatein

hamesha dabaye rakthe hai

phir jab waqt nikal jaata hai tab

haami bharte hai

zindagi jeeyo aise jaise kal na ho

keh do apne dil ki baatein

kar do apna dil ko halka

aur jeeyo apni zindagi:)))

Life is but a few precious moments

yet we live our lives with gloomy thots

why can't we find happiness in those

small little nuances, those little gestures that

bring a smile to our hearts and joy to our souls

Let us focus on the smiles and wipe the tears

why do we keep our thoughts locked in our hearts

Emotions, are meant to be shared

joy and grief, happiness and sorrow, smiles and tears

Share them and lighten your heart

Share them and spread the joy

We keep out thoughts locked away

for fear of rejection, ridicule and disappointment

and then time passes by and the feelings remain

festering away at your soul

get them out, free the thoughts, share ur soul

Life is but a few precious moments

Life life fully, Live like there is no tomorrow

Smile and giggle, laugh and love.

Life is worth that and so much more:))

Sutapa

I am HOT!!!

(Disclaimer before starting this....All views expressed here are mine and mine only, so help me lord:) Puns, double entendre, cliches, euphemisms may or may not be intended....that discretion rests solely with the reader depending on their perception...my thots are typed purely as they form in my convoluted brain and spewed forth:)

Yeah so where was I? Yeah I am HOT!!! Yup no doubt about it.....I literally give out heat:) How you may ask...A very simple trick, again many thanks to this condition called Parkinson's, I have learned the many amazing tricks my body can do.... all without my permission or without my say so....my various body parts decide to let off steam, send off electrical impulses, go on vibrate mode, or do a jiggly wiggly...especially the shins part of my leg, and then boy am I a mover shaker:)))

When I am in the mover shaker mode, sometimes it is either a part of my body or sometimes the whole body joins in for the fun, I am shaking so much, if I am sitting on a chair, the chair shakes, if I am laying on the bed, yup shake it up, or if someone is holding me trying to calm my body down, I move them too:)

Never knew my body knew so many tricks....as for my mind..ahem lets leave that be...So it is during these moments that I am hot, electrifying, and at the end of that episode, after my body decides to calm down, am sweaty and tired...yup i know... and then I wonder why I am tired huh....

Yeah baby I am hot:) Reminds me of this Hindi song..."Khambe jaisi khadi ho, bijli ho ya .....basically means full of sparks and spitfire....yup that is me:) Modest to the last breath:)

I Can Do it

while i lie down on the carpet

a quivering body

moving and yet not able to move 

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

while i stumble, grumble 

and sway as my body has a mind of it s own

as i try to move forward

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

Baby Baby baby all i need is u

and i can conquer the  world

I need  u to hold my hands and share my dreams

Tell me baby will you will you coz 

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

while i sit in my chair

and my body vibrates 

beating a staccato of noise as my chaair vibrates tool

and my feet tap furiously on the table

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

Baby Baby baby all i need is u

and i can conquer the  world

I need  u to hold my hands and share my dreams

Tell me baby will you will you coz 

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

with you by my side

no mountain is too high

no oceam too wide

no cliff too steep

no ravine too deep

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

Baby will you

cos i need u

i want u

i love u

Baby Baby baby all i need is u

and i can conquer the  world

I need  u to hold my hands and share my dreams

Tell me baby will you will you coz 

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it

all i need is ur love and arms to hold me

and i can do it