Bron's page at the Edge of the Forest

My Favorite Things
  1. Color: Sea blue
  2. Day of the Week: Used to be Friday when I worked now Monday
  3. Comfort food: Oysters
  4. Flower: Aapanthus
  5. TV Show: Boston Legal
  6. Sun or Moon? Moon - more mysteriious
  7. Season: late Summer
  8. Vacation place: by the sea
  9. Beverage: Sauvignon Blanc
  10. Hobby: Painting
  11. Store to max out credit cards: Any one that takes it
  12. Movie of all times: Casablanca
  13. Place to be: in the sun
  14. Favorite car: Ferrari
  15. Favorite animal: Charlie - West Highland white terrier
  16. Animals you own: none - Charlie owns me
  17. Music: Country, blues, jazz
  18. Mode of travel: jet - wish I could
  19. City to visit: Paris - London
  20. I also LOVE: Life!

A Bron Sampler

On Living with Parkinson's Disease

At this time we have two options. We take our world ticket and get on the boat and look positively to the future.. or we sit on our hands (you can't see the tremours then) and deny what of life we have left.

..... and that is my point... whether or not we have PD or whatever, our life clock is ticking down, and it is what we do with the rest of our lives that counts....

Queensland Dreaming

Reflections in a Puddle on a Wet Winter Afternoon 

In life, everyone is, to some degree or other, searching for the answers to those questions that occur along our way, for themselves or for others. These answers are not always forthcoming and most of the questions we ask we have to live with unanswered. But the Billion Dollar question "WILL THERE BE A CURE IN TIME TO HELP ME?" remains with many of us “suffering illness.” How we react to it is how we "survive," and that reaction is unique to each individual. It has nothing to do with how far down the illness track we are. It is about the strength of our spirit.

I am not sure how I react to the Billion Dollar question personally. Sometimes I think I do the ostrich dance, (Take a step to the left, take a big breath, head in sand. Take a step to the right….. repeat as necessary in time to your favourite music and you end up where you started). Sometimes I read all that I can on the subject of PD. Sometimes I try to help people deal with PD (not always as successfully as I would like), and sometimes I just "live" life. Even if I am a “Doubting Thomas”, I try to be positive about the advent of a cure. I will wait for the cure, but while I am waiting I shall try to enjoy life. Life is there to be enjoyed.

This individual awareness of time running out is not unique to PD, but occurs with many degenerative and/or terminal illnesses. Perhaps it is the first time we confront our own mortality……… here and now…. not in the future, and we conclude that "now is the hour." Now is the time to do things, now and not later. Now is the time to bungee jump, go para-sailing, learn knitting, tell someone you love them, ride in a gondola, take piano lessons. But, hang on, "now" always was that time. That is the truth that we all forget. The awareness may be highlighted by illness, not necessarily PD, but the time to take control is now, not at some unspecified date in the future. Illness simply sharpens the images of what is or is not possible.

(Note: Bron wrote “Reflections” when she was trying to get Anne to ride on a gondola in Venice, Italy).

Coping with Retirement

…. the search for the next path in life to take can take months or years, but when you find it… wow!

 This jolt out of our comfort zone is difficult to handle. I lost a lot of confidence which took ages to build up again…. Oh I might appear confident but for a long time I felt like a swan gliding across the water, looking fine, but underneath I was paddling like crazy trying to keep up.

 It was when I realised that there was life outside the square I lived in (and I started volunteering to help do things) that I realised I had found the next path in life…"

There is a path for you out there.. it just takes awhile to find it….

Advocacy

I would challenge you to make one person more aware of PD. . . . Public speaking is hard, I know, but try talking to a small group of friends about PD. Don’t be hassled in the checkout queue as you fumble. Simply say that you have PD and it wrecks finger dexterity. They are so embarrassed.. the checkout chick (who has only been trained to say “How are you today” and ”Have a nice day” will look bewildered and the rest of the so-called audience are struggling with the meaning of “dexterity.”

Awareness > Money$ > Research > Cure

If the opportunity comes for you to speak about PD, even if it is just to your tennis or bridge club , or to a group of your neighbours, take it and talk it (Use the KISS principle). . . .

I am up-front with my life so that others can see that although it ain't a bed of roses... life is still good… like crawling up the food chain - eventually our stories will reach more important ears who have more "clout" and something will be done...it has to start somewhere.....

"Bronspeak"

In the morning I have 2 thumbs who know they are thumbs - 8 fingers who think they are thumbs - and a couple of toes who are so cold they have not a clue who they are - it is no wonder I am confused

Personally I feel I am doing my bit in bringing you all together when you all struggle to interpret my 2% nonsense... (I prefer “ninsanse”, which I first typed. Fortunately those whom I have accidentally insulted have either (a) forgiven me, (b) left or (c) or did not “get it”

Mdsfdjrejfnfdddd/fafd fafmfvf neeofdsaklfkfad !!!!? Here are some spare letters that you can use to patch up the holes in my words…. As I talk on and on the punctuation in the pile is all that you will need.. O hang on.. You’ll need some more e’s. lotsa e’s.

Newsssflash:Proficiency certificates in Bronspikare awarded twice a year in the charoom.... Diane from the Bayou and Maddie have satisfactorily passsed this semester's nonsese and can collect their certificates Tuesday morning my time ... or the previous evening your time... I hope i haae not made yself clear

Bron

aka Queen Victoria, Liz II and the Lord Mayor of London.... depending how I feel... and I feel partularly British tonight

Humour

My advice for today is
At ALL times it is important to keep your sense of humour. I am a walking example of this (well almost walking)

                    JUNK JUNK JUNK JUNK


Charlie, Phil, and Bron in the Garden

A Closing Thought
(on the topic of chat times that were never convenient)

To all

Just stirrin'..........

says little aussie scrubbing toe through the dust

aaww.. shucks

I knows youse luvs me

Bron lol

... and at the third stroke it will be nine forty-eight precisely

And a Blessing

This is the Aaronic Blessing - it has been with me all my life.

 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make His face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace

Amen


Bronwyn Andrews
Melbourne, Australia

February 28, 1945 - March 13, 2009

"I'm as far away as the end of the earth, but I am as close as your heart."