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During my training for the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in 1968, I was exposed to toxic chemicals in the water. Later, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs investigated and found that Parkinson’s disease was strongly associated with exposure to those toxic chemicals. Out of the…

The conductor is a mental construct that supports metacognitive processes while in a rested state. That means it is a nonjudgmental observer of the mind that is curious without causing harm. There are many benefits to having a strong conductor, but for me, the most beneficial is the…

A loud crack. I turned and yelled at my grandson, “Keep the billiard balls on the table!” The noise was so loud that I was sure the ball had smashed into the Sheetrock wall. I’ve been known to bounce a ball off the table practicing a special billiard shot. But,…

Sometimes you’re living life to the fullest and forgetting Parkinson’s while doing something you never expected. Recently, for me, it was fishing — something outside my comfort zone. Fishing — really? My first adventure was last summer with friends who wanted to share their love of fishing. It was a…

It was one of those “perfect storm” weeks, when everything came together in a cumulative effect to make life miserable. Too much stress on my system makes it exceedingly difficult to use the conductor due to malfunctions. This only happens to me a few times a year, but it is…

I heard something recently that was new to me — that we are living in “sandwich times.” In other words, this is the “sandwich generation.” It’s a time in history when many are simultaneously caring for both a child at home and a parent. Caring for a so-called normal…

Finding the right doctor who meets your needs as a person with Parkinson’s disease can be daunting. I have consulted with 11 neurologists, seven of whom were movement disorder specialists (MDS), in the five years since my initial diagnosis in 2015. Following are my top criteria in choosing what I…

Conductor brain training has made living with Parkinson’s disease easier for me. The most amazing thing I discovered while using what I call “the conductor” is that signals coming into my brain are sometimes distorted. This distortion can take place in the form of signal amplification or suppression. If…

It’s finally time to open the front windows. A slight breeze has arrived to cast the hot air far (I hope) into the east. With the opening of the windows comes the pulling back of the curtains, which means … LIGHT!  I love the daylight pouring in through the…

“Parkinson’s will not define me.” That was my mantra when I received my diagnosis five years ago. Today, I write about Parkinson’s, participate in Parkinson’s research studies, and teach classes to help others fight Parkinson’s. So, maybe it does define me. I…