tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4931174431442299454.post-2288856871422647202008-03-04T08:50:00.000-08:002008-03-04T09:17:42.028-08:00What sort of blogger can I call myself? Useless!<br />I last posted in September, nearly 6 months ago. Useless!<br />A March resolution, I will do better.<br /><br />In my last blog I said I had been unwell. I don't know why I wasn't more honest. Silly really. There's no shame in having something wrong. It's not as if I'm an axe murderer, is it?<br /><br />Bottom line is I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's. It might sound silly but I was relieved it was that and not something far worse - such as MS or a tumour. It's scary but I'm determined to deal with it.<br /><br />Isn't it strange how we deal with illness, a bit Victorian really, hiding behind <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">euphemisms</span> and pretending all is well. Once I came clean I have to say I've met with real kindness and support. In any case with something like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Parkie</span> people could easily think I was p*****! So better to tell the truth. In particular, my publishers, Orion, have been very understanding.<br /><br />There is of course a downside - isn't there always? It's those people who treat me as if I were terminally ill. "How are you?" they say with the <em>you </em>on a downward slide. "Don't you think you'd be better off in a bungalow?" Now I've nothing against bungalows but I have against her attitude, she is a real "does she take sugar?" in the making!<br /><br />The plus side is that I've met some amazing people by joining PDUK.org a forum for people with Parkinson's, they are a fun group. And I've learnt how my family love me - such positive things.<br /><br />I won't wait six months to post again.Anita Burghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15128652914788161269noreply@blogger.com