Columns

In the book “Talking to Strangers,” author Malcolm Gladwell posits that we are lousy at knowing the intent of strangers. We have no better success than chance in determining whether someone is lying or telling the truth. One explanation is called truth default theory. Simply stated, when meeting…

The feeling of guilt calls to mind the image of a patchwork quilt. Unlike a blanket which is one piece and often uniform in both color and pattern, the quilt is a blend of patches. The patches are all different, each varying in size and color. Some are larger while…

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ― Anatole France Dogs can help as emotional and physical support animals for humans with various disabilities and chronic illnesses, including Parkinson’s. These animals help make life easier for their humans and improve their quality of…

The clouds hover overhead this afternoon. It echoes my emotional state of mind as of late.  I wake up to sunshine and clear blue skies. By noon there is a scattered mantle of white. By dinner time the sunshine toys with me. There will be no oohing and aahing…

My wife and I left our New England home on April 4 and moved into a St. Louis home on the 22nd — a total of 18 days in the dark, cramped quarters of various motel rooms. We have almost 50 years together and communication is one of our strong…

Some parts of the world are only beginning to understand Parkinson’s disease. Often, the general public misidentifies symptoms of the disease, complicating an early diagnosis. While researchers are still attempting to understand the causes of Parkinson’s disease, the symptomatology of it has improved in accuracy since James Parkinson originally identified…

Crazy. That’s what yesterday was. Crazy. And that’s how Parkinson’s can make me feel. Crazy! Today was the first gorgeous spring day of the year. It was clear, blue skies as far as the eye could see. I walked into the kitchen and took a detour, pouring myself a glass…

I miss my support groups, the warm handshakes, and the genuine greeting, “How have you been?” Most of all, I miss hugs from my granddaughters. There is no technology that can replace their healing hugs. We are social beings, and to thrive rather than just survive, we need healing contact…

How will we describe the “Virus of 2020” to future generations? Should we refer to it as the virus that boosted online platforms? An online platform allows people to use the internet and other networked sites like social media to exchange information. Yes, the internet and social media platforms can…

Steam from my hot chocolate fogs my glasses. I almost miss Neo’s opening comment: “How goes the move to St. Louis?” I wipe my glasses. “We had to speed up the whole thing because of the pandemic. Trying to prepare for every possible concern during these unstable times has turned…