It has been a different kind of weekend so far this weekend. After not being able to do much recently due to a knee injury, I feel finally I am on the mend. I really miss being active when I have had to rest up, but this weekend I’ve felt much better and able to do a few things.
We are getting a spa pool in a few weeks time and the part of the yard where it is going needs a bit of a spruce up. My husband has a busy job and does shift work, often starting in the wee small hours and that is what has happened this weekend. Yesterday we started to get stuck in to clean the concrete pad and surrounds that the spa pool will sit on. He did that bit while I cleaned the fence.
I used our waterblaster to clean goodness knows how many years of mildewy green stuff off, lichen and grime. Who knew waterblasting was so much fun! I did half the fence yesterday and some more today. Each time I do something like this, I tend to reflect on the task, the outcome and what it means to me. Perhaps not many people would get a bit philosophical and analyse something like waterblasting a fence, but I very much do. It is a task that one day in the dim dark future I am likely to struggle with. Therefore, the task takes on a different meaning and purpose for me. In cleaning the fence and then painting it – tomorrow’s task – I know that I am making an environment that I will be able to enjoy for many years to come. The satisfaction would not be the same if my husband did it for me. I can look at that fence that I painted, as I sit in my spa pool relaxing and smile, knowing that I did that so that I could better enjoy the experience and atmosphere while having a spa.
The other way I have been ‘doing my bit’ is being a volunteer collector for our local MS & Parkinson’s Society. I know associations like them need support to continue to support people like us and our families. I spent two hours outside one of our local supermarkets and people were very generous in their donations. For those of us who travel this road with Parkies collection days like these are vitally important. As long as I am able, I will try to continue to volunteer so that I can help to fund the help and support that we all need.
I feel that no matter what age or stage we are at that there is likely to be some way that we – the PWP’s – can contribute. Even if we can only help out in small ways if that is all we are able to do. To feel we are an important part of our family, our relationships and associations like MS & Parkinson’s.
Every day, in every way, I try to ‘do my bit’ and hope to do so for many years to come.
My journey with Parkinsons 