Hi everyone -

just posting a different link to updated program information for the conference in Seattle.

http://www.nwpf.org/sympprog.asp

nice to have a place to post again after a long period of drought!

hey cs now you I rember and by reading your post see some other names too, hope to keep in touch this time been a long long time

hi cs posted somewhere dont know where it went lol got some learing to do here good to know people here I know (and hope they remember me) see you soon

Hi Cs:

I am new here and wanted to say hi and share with you a little story about carrots, eggs and coffee.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as soon as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.
She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs and coffee" she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed a hard boiled egg. Finally, the mothe asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?".

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I ? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, bad health, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.


Caya

CS, I remember you also. I posted in 'a long time gone' a short while ago. You were so helpful to me in reference to meds. I'm dealing with psoriasis now....it seems like whenever a new disease/condition takes over, it has the "stage" and my other diseases take the background....only one spotlight, I guess! Anyway, it's good to see your name here!!
mari-mari

I read back through this whole thread and saw other familiar names--Greg W. & others (some I mentioned in my reply to "a long time gone"). It's so ironic (for want of a better word) to see a lot of "old timers" returning to the forum. I just happened to look at my bookmarks and decided to check out the forum, so it was very accidental on my part. I wonder what it all means???
Mari-Mari

I'm a bit slow at finding all of you and but I was glad to see CS's thread and everyone's welcoming messages, so I decided to say hello. CS, you encouraged me to change doctors, which I did, a couple of years ago...a decision I have never regretted. Thank you so much!!

With many good wishes,

Judith (aka Judith2121)

just finished reading all the posts in this thread whew cant remember the last time I saw all those old names but had to laugh at the really fun times mentioned back at braintalk agggggggggggg when i flew in that door I bumped heads with just about everyone who was a shining star at that time and me in my ignorance just kept blasting away OW MY STARS than after a few of my rants and raves some of the stars decided i could stick around lol but best to keep my mouth shut untill I had something nice to say, well I did learn to play nice once my stupid brain fiqured out it was not my own ranting and raving place and I learnd to ask questions and give some small measure of help. My side has always been from the carepartner and sometimes I've been able to help a few spouses on the side in private conversations but must of the time it was just talking to some really good friends.Wanted to get this in while this thread is stall a going like the energizer bunny lol talk soon

Many of we PD'ers have psoriasis, especially the scalp variety. I use a prescription medicated shampoo called "Capex". It is the only medication that has consistantly worked for me. There are topical steriods that work too.


Chas