Re: Drug Holiday? (PD Med Problems)

[WesleyBalk <WesleyBalk@xxxxxxx>]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

--part0_883853261_boundary
Content-ID: <0_883853261@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hi Brian,

I am very grateful for your reply, and intend to follow through and experiment
with your program (which sounds ingerently experimental in the best way). You
are a profound example of the efficacy of your approach, with 19 years to back
it!

Incidentally, the file I enclosed was in microsoft word. I usually put it in
simpletext because the mw doesn't download easily. So I have attached a
simpletext version for the list.

Thank you again. More later.

Wes

--part0_883853261_boundary
Content-ID: <0_883853261@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-type: text/plain;
        name="p chronicles st"
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable
Content-disposition: inline

=0DNote: The following brief history of my interaction with Parkinson=D5s=
 Disease =0Dis all in limericks. It is part of my continuing effort to se=
e the serious through=0Dthe playful, and to demonstrate that every circum=
stance we face offers us=0Dchoices to how we can respond.=0D=0D=0DTHE PAR=
KINSON CHRONICLES=0Dor=0DPARKY. ME AND ENTROPY=0D=0D=0DMy hands started s=
haking in class.=0DIt would last for a spell, and then pass.=0DBut I thou=
ght I should check =0DIt out, what the heck!=0DIf I don=D5t and I=D5m sic=
k, I=D5m an ass.=0D=0DFor just suppose on down the road.=0DI have a bizar=
re episode=0DWith some rare disease=0DThey can cure in a breeze =0DIf it=
=D5s caught in its premature mode.=0D=0DSo I sat in a room in the sun,=0D=
Anxiety? Virtually none.=0DThen a Dr. Van Dyne=0DSaid, =D2From all of the=
 signs,=0DI=D5m quite sure you=D5ve got  Parkinson=D5s.=D3=0D=0DOn being =
thus apprised of the state =0DOf my health, =D2Oh my God! That=D5s just g=
reat!=D3=0DWas the thought that emerged. =0DAnd my feelings then surged=
=0DAnd pathetically cried, =D2Awful fate!=D3=0D=0DBut that lasted only a =
moment =0DAnd before those emotions could foment=0DAn unending ditty=0DOf=
 useless self-pity=0DI felt a transcending bestowment=0D=0D=0DAnd a voice=
 from inside seemed to say,=0D=D2What a great chance to learn and to play=
!=0DYou have a strong bent=0DFor experiment=0DAnd this one=D5s beginning =
today!=D3=0D=0DAnd then from that place deep inside,=0DSomething lifted m=
e, gave me a ride,=0DThat continues today.=0DSupporting my way=0DLike a p=
layful, but challenging guide.=0D=0DThe experience was clear and direct:=
=0DIt went beyond cause and effect,=0DSaying, =D2Change your intent=0DSea=
rch for the complement, =0DGive your new partner respect.=D3=0D=0DThe wor=
th of that counsel has grown,=0DAnd though everything was unknown, =0DAnd=
 I was confused, =0DI never refused =0DThe advice for I knew=0DSomehow it=
 was true=0DAnd I needed to make it my own!=0D=0DAnd little by little I l=
earned=0DA lesson good health never earned:=0DTo seek opportunity=0DEvery=
where, unity=0DWaits to be fully discerned=0D=0DAnd so as the Parkinson=
=D5s grew =0DMy ride became flight, and I flew, =0DAnd my guide from insi=
de=0DBegan to confide =0DIn me, things that were old and yet new.=0D=0D=
=0D=0D=0DI awakened at 4 every morning=0DIn the past I=D5d have gone into=
 mourning =0DSo what a surprise =0DWhen I opened my eyes=0DTo feel pleasu=
re the dawning adorning.=0D=0DAnd I wrote and I wrote and I wrote,=0DWhat=
 felt like a very long quote=0DFrom my inner advisor=0DA daily surpriser,=
=0DTo worry, a sure antidote.=0D=0DAnd as for regret and despair, =0DThe =
advice was, =D2Pretend you don=D5t care!=0DThen care with a will=0DTill y=
ou=D5ve had your fill=0DThen don=D5t care and care and don=D5t care!=0D=
=0D=D2When you can care/not care with ease,=0DBlend those stark antithese=
s=0DCreate combinations=0DThat knit bifurcation=D5s=0DTill your journey t=
ransforms to a breeze!=0D=0D=D2Now Parkinson=D5s is an affliction=0DThat =
can seem a foul malediction,=0DIf you fix on its flaw=0DAnd let regret gn=
aw=0DAt your heart without interdiction.=0D=0DIf you seek out the value i=
nstead,=0DWith the following plan, you=D5ll be led=0DTo a new point of vi=
ew=0DBeyond false and true,=0DThat will help get you out of your head. =
=0D=0DFirst, describe how your life was before=0DParky tried to make less=
 out of more=0DAnd then make a second =0DDescription to reckon=0DWhat Par=
ky allowed you to score.=0D=0D=0DMy life had been habit, well-known,=0DPr=
edictable; I had not grown=0DIn meaningful ways =0DFor years, and the gla=
ze=0DOf the known glibly banned the unknown.=0D=0DBut since Parky I=D5d c=
ome to know =0DSomething more than the mere status quo:=0DA flow non-habi=
tual=0DFree of dead ritual=0DAnd again I had started to grow!=0D=0DWhen I=
 put those two lists side by side=0DI found it a snap to decide=0DWhich o=
ne I preferred=0DBut preferred is absurd=0DI loved where I=D5d come to re=
side.=0D=0DThen one day I suddenly knew=0DIf I could go back and undo=0DT=
his so-called disease=0DI=D5d refuse, for the ease=0DOf the habits of old=
=0DWere surpassed by the bold=0DRevelations that lived in the new. =0D=0D=
The voice is my higher observer,=0DOf gifts and conundrums a server=0DHe =
is me and not me=0DBut for all he=D5s taught me=0DI seldom feel like a de=
server.=0D=0DBut I am no dummy! A gift=0DThat gives me a much needed lift=
=0DWhenever I ask=0DI accept, and I=D5ll bask=0DIn it, happy that I=D5m n=
ot adrift.=0D=0DI wont fret about what I=D5ve done=0DTo earn it for it=D5=
s like the sun;=0DIt lightens my way,=0DNot asking for pay,=0DOr a fee wh=
en its course has been run.=0DAs Shakespeare said, if we all got=0DWhat w=
e truly deserve who would not=0DReceive a good whipping=0DFor their lifem=
anshipping:=0DSo gratitude should be our lot. =0D=0DAnd if we ask, =D2Wha=
t should be sought?=D3=0DThe answer is clear, =D2Have we caught,=0DThe le=
arning that=D5s there?=D3=0DAnd if we ask =D2Where?=D3=0DWe=D5re the teac=
her, the subject, the taught!=0D=0DOf course we must practice attending =
=0DTo the teaching that teacher is sending=0DThe lesson is clear=0DDespit=
e what we fear,=0DWe can find a pathway ascending.=0D=0DOn the inside, of=
 course, not the outer,=0DThough the inner is not a great shouter,=0DIts =
voice will grow stronger=0DThe longer and longer=0DWe practice not being =
a doubter.=0D=0DThe lessons aren=D5t learned on the spot=0DI ran into tha=
t truth a lot=0DFor my four AM buzz=0DBy noon turned to fuzz=0DAnd its pr=
esence was no longer hot.=0D=0DA  dense, and delimiting fog=0DWould arise=
 and effectively clog=0DMy relative mind=0DWhich felt in a bind=0DAnd sta=
rted a tense monologue=0D=0DFor the mind felt its loss of control,=0DAnd =
knew it must learn a new role=0DAs only one part=0DOf a Whole with a hear=
t=0DAnd a body, and spirit and soul!=0D=0D=0DThe new information it knew=
=0DWas beyond it, and yet it was true!=0DThe mind could receive it,=0DBut=
 could not conceive it,=0DAnd that made the mind feel blue.=0D =0DAnd we =
two thought that =D2This is a time,=0DWhen you wake with a vision sublime=
,=0DAnd scribble it down.=0DQuite sure that you=D5ve found=0DA brilliant =
new paradigm!=0D=0DBut when you wake up the next day,=0DTo see what your =
note has to say,=0DYour fresh, eager eyes=0DSee this dubious prize:=0D=D2=
The universe is a great play!=D3=0D=0DSo when I went home I expected =0DT=
o read through my work all dejected=0DBut instead what I found =0DWas oft=
en profound =0DAnd never could be disrespected.=0D=0DMy mind even found i=
t exciting:=0D=D2Why not?=D3 it said, =D2I did the writing!=0DI have to r=
educe it,=0DAnd then introduce it.=0DThough I only edit=0DI=D5ll take all=
 the credit=D3=0D(I must interrupt,=0DMy mind=D5s so corrupt=0DIt needs s=
ome instructive indicting!)=0D=0DMy mind had to learn it was vincible,=0D=
A victim of Peter=D5s great Principle:=0DWisdom pretense=0DEquals incompe=
tence,=0DAnd that made the mind newly winceable.=0D=0D=0D=0D=0DIt found t=
hat its assimilation=0DLagged behind the full flow of creation,=0DBut it =
came to see=0DIt was honored to be=0DA secretary=0DConscripted yet free=
=0DFor some sort of cosmic dictation.=0D=0DNot channeling, for participat=
ion=0DOn my part was clear=D1cocreation=0DWas there at the heart of it=0D=
As the best part of it=0DAn uplifting collaboration.=0D=0DMy mind seemed =
to be in a school, =0DThat drew from a great cosmic pool, =0DI could take=
 it all in =0DWith my own discipline. =0DOr forget it, but I=D5m not a fo=
ol!=0D=0DI know when I=D5ve got a good thing,=0DAnd the thought of not le=
tting it sing,=0DAnd thereby be lost=0DWas awful, no cost=0DWas too great=
 to let its song ring!=0D =0DAnd when I had made it my own=0DThe unknown =
transformed to the known.=0DThat=D5s a deep-seated drive =0DThat lets us =
derive =0DWho we are and come in to our own.=0D=0DThese limericks recount=
ing my story, =0DA Process a posteriori =0DAre one good example. =0DA Per=
sonal sample. =0DOf how it unfolds. con amore.=0D=0DI talked about comple=
mentarity=0DA lot, though not always with clarity.=0DThen one day a frien=
d=0DBrought my talk to an end:=0DAsking, =D2What complements complementar=
y?=0D=0DAnd then, rather quickly, I thought=0DThat entropy seemed like it=
 taught=0DA message reversing=0DWhat life was rehearsing=0DThough both in=
 imbalance were caught.=0D=0DFor life without death=D5s an illusion=0DAnd=
 death as the end a delusion=0DWhen they get together=0DThey ride out the=
 weather=0DOf either=D5s unbalanced confusion.=0D =0DFor entropy deals wi=
th dying=0DIf that were the whole we=D5d be crying,=0DBut ebbing and flow=
ing=0DDecaying and growing=0DAre cycles of transmogrifying.=0D=0DAnd thou=
gh it seems most paradoxical=0DEither alone can be toxical=0DSo living an=
d dying=0DLike trying, not-trying,=0DLike laughing and crying=0DReceiving=
, replying,=0DHelloing, Goodbying=0DComplicate, simplifying=0DAre cycles =
that are not out-foxical.=0D  =0DI realized with some delight,=0DWhy Park=
y was not just a plight =0DThat I sadly lamented =0DOr deeply resented, =
=0DIt was my own entropy insight.=0D=0DHe helped me to know my mortality=
=0DAnd experience its true temporality, =0DAnd that set me free=0DBy show=
ing that =D2to be=D3=0DWas more than our mere physicality.=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=
=0DThat=D5s a commonplace, but when you know it=0DIt=D5s different than t=
rying to show it,=0DTo think is a gift,=0DTo know is a lift=0DTo shrink k=
now to think is to blow it.=0D=0DIf we could know all this completely=0DW=
e could stop viewing life obsoletely, =0DAs that which declines =0DWhen o=
ur body resigns =0DIts functions, overtly, concretely.=0D=0DFor the life =
of the spirit expands, =0DOr it can when our physical glands =0DAre on th=
eir last legs =0DAnd each of them begs =0DTo be granted some final demand=
s.=0D=0DAlthough we are mostly beginners=0DWe can balance their needs wit=
h an inner=0DAttention to energies=0DWhich become synergies=0DMaking each=
 part feel a winner.=0D=0DSo whenever life feels like a trial=0DLet go of=
 what could be denial=0DAnd seek out the value=0DMake Parky a pal who=0DC=
an teach you a new living style.=0D                              =0D=09=
=09=09=091993=0D=0DAddenda in 5/97=0D=0DParky is now in his teens,=0DAnd =
living with me just demeans=0DHis growing maturity=0DSince his futurity=
=0DLies with new places and scenes.=0D=0D=0DI=D5m pursuing alternative wa=
ys,=0DTo move to a new Parky phase,=0DThough he is a blessing=0DHis style=
 grows stressing=0DI=D5ll find him a new place to graze.=0D=0DI still thi=
nk of him as a friend,=0DWith whom I have found a new blend=0DOf knowing =
and growing,=0DOf ebbing and flowing=0DBut all partnerships finally end.=
=0D=0DTo help him move smartly along=0DI written him a farewell song,=0DI=
t=D5s firmly insistent=0DAnd will be persistent=0DUntil my old friend is =
long gone.=0D=0D=0DADIOS PARKY=0D(Because, Just Because)=0D=0DJust becaus=
e we=D5ve been super partners,=0DJust because we=D5ve danced up a storm,=
=0DDoesn=D5t mean, my old buddy, Parky,=0DThat pattern will stay the norm=
. =0D=0DNow that you=D5re a brand new teenager=0DLet=D5s take a little an=
alyzing pause,=0DTo see whether I=0DShould say Parky, Good-bye!=0DBecause=
, just because!=0D=0DJust because I haven=D5t been angry=0DJust because I=
 let you hang out,=0DDoesn=D5t mean I wont change behavior=0DThat=D5s one=
 thing you=D5d best not doubt=0D=0DIt is time that we said addio,=0DWitho=
ut  any argument or pause,=0DYes, I=D5m telling you, Parky,=0DI=D5m throu=
gh with you,=0DBecause, just because!=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=0D=
=0D

--part0_883853261_boundary--