Life through the Lens of Parkinson's
Parkinson's changes life. It's still life.
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 11. Copyright 2016 We have turned our dining room into a library, well-stocked with science fiction and fantasy. We are proud nerds. *I feel a disturbance in the Force. I wrote this month's blog about life through the lens of Parkinson's Disease before Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds … Continue reading May the Swartz be with you
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 10. Copyright 2016 My family's canoe trip on the Androscoggin River in Maine is a precious memory. I think that's why I chose it as my first subject for learning to paint. Rivers are ideal metaphors for life. I grew up between the Kanawha River and a set … Continue reading Riding the River
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 9. Copyright 2016 I blamed my total knee replacement surgery for switching on my Parkinson's gene, but I realize now that I already had Parkinson's symptoms when I had the operation. I wanted to find a reason, a culprit. How did I get Parkinson's? People ask, but I … Continue reading Good Question
by Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 8. Copyright 2016 I am content to have stunning views in my memory. Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland, gave me this one. More endearing to the memory is the company of a friend celebrating being cancer-free. I don't really have a bucket list. I'm not interested in … Continue reading The Beat goes on
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 7. Copyright 2016 Refusing to accept help or use a cane or other accommodation makes as much sense as refusing to take my meds. I don't earn points through suffering. We don't get any extra points for suffering. Pain is not a contest, and I don't want to … Continue reading No Contest
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 6. Copyright 2016 I mean to be a lamb at Bible study, but I often end up being a lion. I am struggling with being a bitch in Bible study. I do not use that word as profanity, a swear as my friends in Maine would say, … Continue reading I am struggling with being a bitch in Bible study
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 5. Copyright 2016 Boxing is an effective exercise for people with Parkinson's (PWPs). I can't think about boxing without a mental nod to Ali. *Muhammad Ali died June 3, 2016 after a long bout with Parkinson's Disease. He was arguably the most well-known athlete in the world for much … Continue reading It was impossible to ignore Muhammad Ali
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 4. Copyright 2016 The county pool near my home serves as a center for exercise, stress relief, and social interaction. I have more bathing suits than I did when I was a teenager. Ever try to pull on a wet bathing suit? A couple of weeks ago, I … Continue reading Ever try to pull on a wet bathing suit?
By Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 3. Copyright 2016 Lifting weights taught me a new definition for the word "negative." The university fitness center in the small Maine town I called home for 18 years offered classes, and over those years, I took several of them: adult swimming lessons, Total Body Cycling, Zumba, Aqua … Continue reading The Negative Spaces
by Teresa Swartz Roberts Blog post 2. Copyright 2016 The view from my chair is comforting. I find peace in sameness. I'll get back to normal next week. I had that thought this morning. I was doing my physical therapy exercises between breakfast and shower, which is way out of my routine. I … Continue reading My New Normal
Life through the Lens of Parkinson's 