This week’s JOY was delivered via e-mail. Colleen wrote: “My dad, Jack, has Parkinson’s. He would love to contact your mom. He loves the book she wrote (Poetry in Slow Motion). Please feel free to e-mail me or call.”
This gave me joy in so many ways. First of all, that a complete stranger would reach out to me, seemingly without hesitation or fear, just so she could do something nice for her dad. Second, it gives me joy to know that her dad read and appreciated my mom’s book, “Poetry in Slow Motion: Navigating Parkinson’s Disease”. I am so pleased that the poetry my mom wrote throughout her years of living with Parkinson’s disease continues to touch people – this would have given my mom much joy. Third, it brought back great memories of my mom, who passed a little over a year ago at the age of 90. Finally, it gave me such joy to see Jack reach out to make a very personal connection. He has Parkinson’s, and just wanted to talk to someone else who was experiencing the same awful disease. He saw in my mom’s words the pain and joy and humor she carried through the journey of this disease, and perhaps he experienced the same feelings, and just wanted to commiserate – in a good way.
Here is one of her favorite poems from the book:
Jumping Hurdles
My life is full of obstacles, it leads me to despair.
Almost everywhere I look, I can see them there.
Now take a little button, almost any one you’ve got.
No matter how I push and pray, it won’t go in the slot.
Zippers are a challenge, to start them is a pain.
So, in despair, my coat stays open, even in the rain.
Eating is so dreaded, that when I see a fork or knife,
I feel the sweat glands starting – the horror of my life.
And every piece of clothing has a spot or two,
for getting food from plate to mouth is impossible to do.
Or when my feet begin to move, or I rise up from a chair,
it seems my feet will simply say, “Hey I’m not going there!”
It seems I can’t remember either time or date.
Therefore, you see, I’m either early, or then again, I’m late.
Life goes on with challenges that beset me every day,
yet each roadblock becomes a hurdle that sets me on my way.
My mom would have been delighted to have someone reach out to talk to her. She loved to talk on the phone, right up to the end of her life. I am ashamed to say I was not always delighted to get her phone calls toward the end of her life. Her speech was very hard to decipher and it took a lot of effort to figure out what she was saying. Still, she persisted. She wanted more than anything to connect with “her girls” (her five daughters) and her grandchildren, and anyone else who would take the time to talk. Talking to people gave her unending joy.
So, I thank Colleen for this e-mail, and I am so sorry that her dad could not talk to my mom. I thank Colleen for the reminder that my mom’s poetry touched so many lives, and continues to do so. I thank her for the warm reminder of how my mom continued to find joy everyday even when walking, talking, and even eating were a constant struggle.
Finally, I thank Colleen for the JOY of remembering my mom, Jean Wegner.
You may order a copy of the book by clicking here:
And here is an article about my mom and her poetry from the Appleton Post-Crescent.
Click here: Poetry helps Appleton woman with Parkinson's