Paula and Peg,

I have walked those roads with you. I have seen your courage, your
instincts - as you put it, your patience, your anger, your highs and
your lows. But always, I have seen you give of yourselves for the good
of others. Granted, there is the hope, of the cure dangling out there
for all of us and the recognition that comes from those who see our
lives as a cause. But mostly - you gave. period. your time, your heart.
and you still do today so many years later.

I wrote this poem for Paula, after first experiencing seeing her go through
distonia. It was a frightening and inspiring. This poem could be said
to a lot of people here on this site that fight day by day, hour by hour
the unseen enemy - Parkinsons. Heres to you!

To My Courageous Friend

You are the heart inside the candle
Passionate
Jumpy with giggles and laughter
Smoldering after spending
Yourself – selflessly
Bright burning – darkness-defying

You are a flame
Refusing to be doused
Stubborn
In silence loud
You re-iterate
Your refusal to become cold
And though you may seem alone
You entice others
To hold their candles high
And twinkle boldly
Sharing, sizzling
Chipping away – purging the dross
To reveal the pure beauty
of your soul – my friend
In my eyes
You are a hero

03/06/06 akc