We saw a symptom of Parkinson’s. My uncle saw a missing jacket.

Texas weather has a way of humbling you just when you think you’ve figured it out.

One of my cousins was celebrating a birthday at a local mini amusement park, and our family and friends came out to join the festivities. It was one of those rare Texas days that seemed almost perfect for being outside. It was cool enough that nobody felt like a rotisserie chicken, but comfortable enough that everyone could enjoy the rides, food, and time together. We thought it would be a great day for Uncle Brandon to join us, too.

By then, preparing for an outing with Uncle Brandon meant thinking ahead about his Parkinson’s disease. We made sure he had the assistive equipment he needed, something to drink, and that he’d taken his medication. Most importantly, he had his favorite hat, because Parkinson’s or not, Uncle Brandon’s signature look still had to be right.

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The day started beautifully. Some of us rode go-karts, everybody ate and enjoyed each other’s company, and Uncle Brandon sat around talking with the other adults.

Then, in true Texas fashion, the weather changed its mind.

The temperature dropped much more dramatically than we’d expected. Suddenly, everybody was reaching for whatever they could find to cover up. We’d known cooler weather was coming, but none of us had prepared for just how cold it would feel.

We carried on with the festivities anyway. At some point, though, I looked over at Uncle Brandon and noticed he’d moved away from the conversation. He stood off by himself, shaking. Immediately, my mind went to his Parkinson’s.

Tremor is one of the most recognizable motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. It involves involuntary, rhythmic shaking and often occurs when the affected body part is at rest. Shivering from the cold, of course, is something our bodies naturally do when we’re trying to warm up.

Of course, my aunt and I weren’t standing at a birthday party conducting a scientific comparison. We simply saw Uncle Brandon shaking.

By then, our family had become accustomed to watching for changes in his Parkinson’s symptoms, so that was immediately where our minds went. My aunt noticed him, too, and we walked over to check on him.

“Hey, Unc, are you OK?” I asked. In my head, I was already wondering whether his tremors were bothering him. Did he need to sit down? Should we get him inside? Was it time to take him home? I was mentally preparing for whatever we might need to do next.

Uncle Brandon looked at us like he couldn’t understand what all the concern was about. “Well, yeah, I’m OK,” he said. Then, still shaking, he shrugged.

“Hell, I’m just cold. Where is my jacket?” Relieved, my aunt and I immediately cracked up. “Ohhhhhh. OK.” All that concern, and the man just needed more clothes.

We got Uncle Brandon bundled up, found him something warm to drink, and before long, he was back to chatting and enjoying himself with everybody else. Meanwhile, the rest of us could exhale.

That little misunderstanding stayed with me because it showed me how easily Parkinson’s could become the lens through which we viewed Uncle Brandon. Paying attention to symptoms and changes was important, especially as his disease progressed. But sometimes our concern could get ahead of the most ordinary explanation.

Not every movement needed to become evidence that something had changed. Uncle Brandon was still a person whose body reacted to the world around him just like ours did.

And that day, there was some relief in realizing that what we had interpreted as a Parkinson’s symptom wasn’t another change we needed to worry about. We didn’t need a new plan, an early trip home, or another concern to add to our growing list.

Uncle Brandon was simply cold.

The man just needed more layers.

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.