This year seems to have flown by and so too has the time from my diagnosis two years ago tomorrow. As I did on my 1st Anniversary I like to stop and take some time to think about how this year has been for me.
I have just had a brief look over my post last year on my 1st anniversary. It showed that I was going through a rollercoaster of emotions at the time. But, the thing that has remained constant throughout these two years, is that this Blog continues to be the best therapy I could wish for. It gives me a way of working through my thoughts and emotions and sending them somewhere so that I don’t constantly carry them with me. I don’t hide from this diagnosis, but neither do I allow it to become all consuming. I still need to live my life and focus on more important things than internalizing my feelings and letting this thing rule my life.
I do find perhaps that I might think about Parkinson’s and my future a bit more this year. As each year goes by, I do wonder how many more good years will I have? I very much want to make the most of my time though, both with my husband and my children and grandchildren.
There are still lots of things that I can do and have achieved in this year.
- I have continued to work as a Social Worker and to be effective.
- I have covered on my own for three weeks while my colleague was on leave and managed to do so calmly and effectively. Considering I do get more stressed these days, I am quite proud of that!
- I have painted several bits of fence by myself and – although not perfect – am quite proud of that too!
- I have learned to use a water blaster. Love that piece of kit! 🙂
- I have continued to care for my garden and planted lots of plants with my husband.
- I have returned to the gym after a knee injury and feel I am finding my way back to exercise.
- I have continued to ride my e-bike and – apart from one dramatic falling off incident – am able to do so reasonably safely….
- I play ‘Wordle’ every day and it is rare that I don’t get the answer in 3 to 4 tries. The brain is still doing what it should be.
- I play ‘Words with Friends’ and win more times than I lose. Apart from perhaps with my Aussie S.I.L. You know who you are!
- I can still cook a reasonable meal and sometimes a pretty awesome one.
- I continue to bake from time to time and am mostly successful. Apart from the recent blueberry muffin debacle!
- I sleep most nights pretty well. At times having a spa in my new spa pool certainly helps.
- We have had our granddaughters to stay more this year, I think. I am enjoying the bigger girls growing towards adulthood and seeing them find themselves. Their younger sister and I do things together like play Jenga when the big girls are being too “Twinny” and it’s nice to have that one-on-one time with her. We also continue to bake when they come to stay, and I am enjoying spending time with them in the kitchen.
- I continue to visit my son and his wife and three sons in Wellington as often as I can afford to and feel I am developing a good bond with my grandsons. When he can my husband comes too, but I continue to feel safe to travel alone.
- I can mostly keep my thoughts in the here and now, though have thought about the future a bit more this year.
So, not too many changes this year physically or mentally, I think. The year has been mostly positive. I did find that I was having a few tremors in my left hand around 6pm at night, so have increased one of my medications, Sinemet by 1/2 a tablet three times a day. I’ve had the odd incident of my toes sort of cramping and locking at a funny angle, but that’s not happened very often. I can still drive, and I think I am still safe to do so.
My husband and I continue to have a good relationship and I think – I hope – that he would tell me if he had any concerns or needed support. He usually manages to balance his protective instincts towards me with letting me try stuff that maybe make him nervous. Like climbing on a step ladder in the garden to put a bird net over the cherry tree. Dangerous? Surely not! I was very careful I promise!
Life is still pretty good and I look forward to 2023 and exploring more of the UK with my lovely husband. I also look forward to seeing the UK family and meeting some of the younger members as well.
Here’s hoping next year will be a predominantly positive year too!
My journey with Parkinsons 