hey there, stranger…

Well, hello there stranger(s). Nice to see you again. It’s been a while. I’d ask you how you’ve been, but, you know…2020. So…’nuff said. I’ve stayed healthy, and safe, and close to home during these strange and confusing times. I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned to Mike or the kids that I need to write. I need to get something new on my blog. It’s been too long. But here’s the thing. What the heck do I write about during a global pandemic? So, I decided to write about having nothing to write about. Sounds about right…right???

I could write about COVID, our collective response to it, and my opinion of that response. But…I think that everyone, including myself, is COVID-weary and just wants a break from the numbers, and the opinions, and the closures, and the openings, and the heartbreak. I could write about Parkinson’s and what’s been going on in PD research, and PD fundraising, and PD education. That would actually be appropriate. Or I could write about Parkinson’s and how I’ve been doing, but that seems a bit inappropriate…and maybe even slightly selfish. As COVID-tired as everyone is, they also, in my opinion, don’t necessarily care to read about one person’s struggles when the whole world is struggling.

So, I’m going to try to jot down a brief bullet list of what’s been going on with me, and Parkinson’s, and Just Shake It Off lately. Kind of like an annual Christmas letter…only in July. If you’d like to hear or learn more about anything, just drop me a note. I’d love to chat. I ALWAYS love to chat, and…I seem to have some time on my hands and an empty weekly planner.

just the facts, ma’am…

• accepted the fact that we were going to have the longest spring break ever
• surprised Mabel with the concert tickets of her dreams for her upcoming “Sweet Sixteen” birthday
• consoled Mabel when the concert of her dreams was (hopefully only) postponed
• celebrated Ellie winning OC’s Female Rookie Of The Year award
• celebrated (Mason’s girlfriend) Becca’s college graduation with a virtual surprise party
• was approved for disability after a year filled with mountains of paperwork
• celebrated Mason, Becca, and Ellie all making the Dean’s List
• prayed for peace and faith as my dad suffered another heart attack and more issues with his lungs
• accepted the fact that Mabel and Bram, my babies, turned sixteen
• moved Mason into a new apartment in Mt. Pleasant
• was nominated for two awards for Parkinson’s advocacy
• reorganized and “prettied-up” my bedroom for a peaceful, new retreat
• began trying to catch up on all of the doctor’s appointments that were postponed
• researched and chose a new Bible study to begin
• was offered a position as an advocate for a Parkinson’s website, giving me the opportunity to write and be compensated for it

So there you have it…the cliff notes version of my COVID diary. How a writer writes when there’s nothing to write about. One thing that stands out as I go back to proofread this piece is how many GOOD things I got to share with you. How much I have to be thankful for and how many times I got to celebrate!

None of this has been easy…for anyone. Much has been lost…but, hopefully much more has been learned. And, I hope that as you look back on these months that we’ve all been apart, that you, too, will discover your own reasons to celebrate.