Spontaneity was never my strong suit. Before Parkinson’s disease, I scheduled my time and always felt I needed to know ahead of time what I was doing and where I should be. I was not very flexible.
Now with Parkinson’s disease and its rigidity and motor fluctuations, I find that my body is not always so flexible. Granted, for the most part, I am doing fine. However, there are times when it comes to going out that I am not up to the task. And believe me it turns into a task. I do not always look at it as something I want to do. Many times my response to invitations comes with the caveat that if I don't make it is because of a mobility problem. The people I hang out with know the drill.
Spontaneity comes and goes in my life. I was feeling good after my aqua exercise class one day, so I decided to go a local pizzeria for lunch. This is the same pizzeria I wrote about in the posting, Two Gentlemen and a Lady. It had been a long time since I was there. I had the usual nerves when I decided to go. The usual, useless, self-fulfilling prophesy nerves. As we all know, if there is ever something you do not want to happen, think about it happening and there is a fairly good chance it will.
Despite my nervousness, I "powered through," so to speak, getting my takeout order at the pizzeria. It was not easy, but I focused my thoughts on not freezing up and not having mobility problems. I did a little subtle foot and leg exercises. I kept moving, albeit unnoticed by most everyone. I made it! To the non-PDer that is no big deal. To this PDer it is a very big deal.
I went out of town a couple months ago to a PD-related meeting. As I was walking toward the building and doing great mobility-wise, I headed in the direction of the door.
It was a revolving door and the only way to get into the building. I had frozen up in a revolving door a couple years ago. I knew I would not get stuck in this one. If I did not move, it would move me, just as the door a couple years ago tossed me onto the sidewalk.
So, just as my personal trainer helps me "power through" mobility problems, I was determined to "power through." I made it and thankfully we found another way out of the building after our meeting.
