Killed in action in 1970 in vietnam...died of complications from Parkinson's disease 20??. Apparently, according to t he veterans administration, exposure to Agent Orange, began the cascade of events that eventually presented symptoms that fit the description of Parkinson's disease. So, in 1970 my oxidative phosphorylation process was uncoupled, and the adventure began. Am I saying that I have had pd since 1970? No, that is not what I am saying. What I Am saying is that 1970 is the date of the first insult
That is how I will refer to it from now on. http://www.braincrumbs.org/beastmix.html Listen to that. I am 63 years old, and I have had Parkinson'sdisease for no less than 23 years. It sometimes feels like forever.

I have learned much about myself in those 23 years. Some of that knowledge I could have lived without, and some of it defines who I am becoming. I think I posted this before, but here it is again:

Twenty things that I have learned:
1) what I have learned is not enough to slay the beast.
2) I have learned that there are many truly remarkable
people who have Pd, and those whom I have met
in this forum fall into that category.
3) Pd is not the end of living, but it is the beginning of
living a new lifestyle that sometimes has advantages
over my old lifestyle.
4) if one allows it to, Pd can develop a humble tenderness
in the heart that would otherwise be nearly impossible
to achieve.
5) the human body is a very remarkable organism whose
intricacies and synergy defy explanation.
6) the only complete cure for Parkinson's disease will be
discovering how to prevent Parkinson's disease.
7) an innate intelligence was included in the design of mankind,
and if mankind intends to understand the "how's" of
function, he is first going to have to acknowledge the
existence of that intelligence, which will lead him to the
next question- "Why?"
8) viewing the human DNA with a double strand of
one hundred million nucleotides on each strand will cause
severe eye strain. ( lol )
9) following the ontogeny of a human embryo as it defines, shapes,
duplicates, educates, induces, diverges, completes and maintains
itself, and not being in awe of what you have observed, in my
opinion, is impossible.
10)to think that the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous,
excretory, skeletal, muscular, endocrine, lymph and reproductive
systems could possibly develop and work in harmony without
contribution and forethought is, in my opinion, not thinking at all.
11)the depths of compassionate emotion that are achievable by mankind
are only limited by the degree to which one allows himself/herself
to become involved in the needs of others.
12)without the negatives in life, the positives would go unappreciated.
13)an unappreciative heart soon grows cold, numb, and unable to care.
14)if one does not touch life with his physical senses, life's wondrous
glories he will never know.
15)if one does not touch life with his spiritual senses, the loving care with
life was created will forever remain a myth.
16)the root of all disease is planted in the soil of mankind's aggressive greed.
17)the levels of knowledge are these: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Each level attained adds content to the level that preceded it, thereby
causing overflow and avoidance of stagnation.
18)a stagnant pond will die an early death, while one which
flows will provide many with life.
19)I found that in refusing to accept my limitations, I was not
allowing myself to explore my potential. On the other hand,
by accepting my limitations and exploring my potential, I have
discovered that buried inside this physical vessel that I inhabit
is a good portion of myself that has been suppressed by my
now limited part. In my opinion, it is now that portion's turn
to emerge and shine.
20)opinions are more diverse than I once assumed, and the above
statements are merely the opinions that I have persuaded myself
to hold as a portion of my set of truths until I persuade myself
otherwise, if I so choose.
May the abundance of God's blessings become a part of your daily
living.
michael