To Lose a Mother Slowly To lose a mother slowly is like walking around half asleep. It’s being caught in a thunderstorm but pretending it’s not raining as you stand there, frozen, clothes dripping. Time tells the story when you can’t,pictures become progression markers.Events are just more things without her,and you hide your bitterness well. To lose …
What I Want for Christmas If I could have whatever I want for Christmas, This is what I’d do… I’d stomp, I’d scream, I’d kick, I’d yell, Then I’d package up Parkinson’s And send it straight to Hell. I’d buy the nicest box With the perfect red ribbon string, And carefully place each piece of …
A Little Stone Pebble I never say bad words. You will never hear me curse. I never have. It’s just not who I am and not how my mama raised me. A bad word doesn’t feel right rolling off my tongue. It’s like a little stone pebble in an otherwise fine bowl of soup – …
sometimes I feel like I’m wrapped tight in thin paper and if I breathe too hard it will tear I crawl in bed, at times when I know I’m not supposed to be there at first it came and went and now it seems to stay a sadness that won’t shake an anger rubbed in …
memories
My Parents My parents practice a cool strategy sometimes when my mom’s feet freeze from Parkinson’s disease. The first time I saw it, I doubted it would work. My dad stands in front of mom, holds her hands, and then proceeds to walk backward. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all, sometimes it works slowly, and …
2, 4, 6 Happy Birthday will be here soon. I stay up working on assignments until 1 am and then try to fall asleep. At 2:30 a.m. my oldest daughter rushes into my room. “Mom,” she says, “it’s time to go.” I’m like, “What? No. It’s 2 in the morning.” She says, “No, mom, it’s …
Tears in the Doorway I never imagined myself at the park in pajamas. Today I tried to pay twice at Burger King. I was getting food for my parents and I literally paid at the first window and then tried to pay again at the second. I wasn’t being super nice. I just can’t think …
No cure in sight April was Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. Another year has passed and no cure in sight. While life was happening, this invisible, uninvited guest moved in and now he won’t leave. Sometimes I call him “Mr. Parky.” He resides on the right side of my body. He is such a nuisance. I …
Not Drunk No, I am not drunk. But I just look and act like I am. I never acquired the taste for alcohol. I always saw a person who couldn’t control the amount of alcohol they ingested as weak, and I’ve always had a need to be in control. My choice of drink is Mexican …
