Bravest Face

by Karen Patterson

My ordinary world was a song and dance.
About a gal, her guy, two kids, some romance.
We lived life to the fullest! 
Chased down our hopes and dreams.
Although all too often in life.
Nothing is what it seems.

 
No matter what, we kept after our dream.
Sometimes we got mad and blew off great steam.
Sickness, injury, insult and more.
Everyday normal became too much of a chore.

All in all it just bonded my family more.
More than life my kids I adore. 

 
In my Call to Adventure I was a ping pong ball
I waited too long to qualify for this call 
”Brain’s not shrinking yet.”
What the Hell does that mean?
Then refusing to see my husband!
Most who’ve heard that think it’s
Wrong, too obscene. 

“Parkinson's Syndrome, or Parkinsonism,”
I can live with, understand that. 
Only in my Refusals to Call
The hardest thing was convincing Pat. 
 

That Refusal to Call, we had to stop putting on airs.
It's giving mom too many white hairs! 
Because mom can’t fix this or make it go away! 
The best we can do is find a new way.

There's still so much to do, so much to see!
It doesn't have to be so scary for you or me!

Fibromyalgia was much more frightening for me.
Lost, lonely, sick, tired, and big as could be.

A success story is what I strive to be.
I'm still quite large so most people can't see. 
I know I'm a new improved me.
I would not have, could not have without PD!