Supportive Friends

       

       I think I raised my children to accept all people.  Olivia's best friend in middle school and high school was African American. Renee's best friend is Gay.  We have a transgendered person in our family.  I have quite a diverse friend network.  I still see my childhood best friend and my college friends.  I reconnected with my high school friend Diane and I was so happy about that.  I don't see her much but we are in touch on Facebook!  I have friends of every economic status, education, and age!  I have a friend whose husband owns his own plane and they have a movie theater in their home.  I  have friends who are millionaires and friends who live week to week.  I have friends who are super religious and others who are agnostic.  And I have friends who love Trump and friends who hate him with a burning passion. (I never discuss Trump with my friends who like him because I HATE him so much and think he is a terrible person and a poor leader and a total narcissist). I have friends who have their Ph.ds and friends who are high school graduates. I also have friends who are younger than me by over ten years+ and friends who are a few years older than I am. I also have wonderful online friends. I met my best friend Priscilla online!  And I enjoy time with all of them.  Yesterday at our Bereaved Mom's meeting, we discussed having supportive friends.  Some people who we had thought would be the most supportive were not and others who we never expected support from were right there helping.  I made the comment that my Jewish friends were very supportive and that I think there is something in their faith that helps them to be there for bereaved people.  I really think they are taught to be there for people who need help in grief.  I think it is just how they live their lives.  After I said that, the other moms started going through their lists of friends and said, "you're right, I never realized that before!" I think that it is wonderful that Jewish friends are taught such compassion in their faith. My best friends were amazingly supportive! I really appreciate that my friends don't flinch when I say Amy's name.

        Having Parkinson's is just but a drop in the bucket of sadness in my life.  After losing a child, nothing else comes close to upsetting me.  I hope I get to go to Heaven when I die, but who knows?  I think bereaved parents have already done their penance on earth.  My friends keep telling me how good I like and I think to myself......How Bad did they think I Would Look?? Or How Bad did I look before that they are commenting on how wonderful I Look?? I think they are just being kind! It's all makeup, people!!
        Tomorrow I go to the Rock Steady gym to get assessed for which Parkinson class group I would fit into.  I use to go to Planet Fitness two or three times per week and walk on the treadmill or go on the bikes and sometimes the stair climber!  Now I am slow and don't think I can do too much physically.  I hope that improves if I join the classes.  My friend Diane, who also has Parkinson's, told me that the classes gave her so much strength.  She can stand up from the sitting position without holding onto anything.  I have to hold onto something on both sides to get to a standing position from a sitting position.
        My chiropractor told me to start doing sciatica exercises when I am home and not in terrible pain.  I am always in pain from the sciatica and always weak from he Parkinson's.  But I will try to do some today because I am rules oriented and do what I am told.  I say to my husband, "why do you bother going to the doctor if you aren't going to do what he tells you to do?"  If I spend my time and money going to see any doctor, I listen to what they say!