I think I have always been a bit weird, those that know me would no doubt agree. In fact I can almost hear a chorus of my loved ones saying “A bit weird?¿?!” Somewhat sarcastically.
But. I think we all have our ‘things’. I have a number of them. Before I start to name and shame myself, do remember I have Parkinson’s and the memory isn’t always the best. I know I do tell the same story more than once. In fact I probably end up retelling a story that I heard ‘somewhere’ only to be told that they were the ones who told me in the first place!
My things!
I really do think I am a bit OCD, just a touch. Or ADHD perhaps? Things that may slightly annoy some people can really annoy me. Sometimes after a time I can get over them, but sometimes not.
Let’s start…..
- I only like sandwiches if they are cut across. Cutting them straight up and down is just not acceptable. I’m at the airport on my way home from holiday and I bought a toasted sandwich… They cut it the wrong way!!!!!!
- I am fussy about how my towels are folded. I have to ignore the current state of my linen cupboard as my husband’s ‘system’ – a very laid back, ‘as long as it’s in there…’ is so far removed from my ‘everything in its allocated space’ system.
- When I was working I parked in basically the same parking spot for about 11 years. It didn’t have my name on it, but it was mine even if I was the only one who knew that. If someone else parked in it, it did not bode well for the start of my day.
- I usually preferred one toilet stall and would always use it if no-one else was. When someone else was in ‘my toilet’ it did not feel right to use another.
- Speaking of toilets…. Toilet roll running down the wall is WRONG! I can’t help myself, I have to change it to running on the outside.
There are probably more. You may ask ‘why is she rambling on about this stuff?’ and it would be a fair question. The reason is that as we progress, that’s all of us with or without PD, these seemingly silly little things can become very important.
Take my sandwich cutting requirement – yes it is a requirement – if I am unable to communicate at any point and someone was to make me a sandwich, if it is not cut corner to corner I may refuse to eat it. That may sound silly/strange, but could be important especially if anyone has an element of dementia. If a toasted sandwich is made differently and it’s cut wrong, they may even not recognise it as a sandwich?! If things are not done as they have always had them done this could be enough to stop them eating whatever the thing was.
Think of your ‘things’ that if not attended to in a way you would want them to, how would that feel?
Perhaps write down some of your quirks so that they can be shared if you can’t state your needs at any time.
The toilet roll thing will always bug me.
One last thing… I was at bowls one day and one of the guy’s collar on his shirt was tucked under on one side. I reached over and fixed it – he was a club member I knew – and someone said ‘is that your husband?’ To which I replied ‘No. It was just bugging me that his collar was wrong!’ At least it wasn’t a complete stranger. Mind you, that might not stop me!
See told you I’ve always been a bit weird!
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My journey with Parkinsons 