47 Times around the Sun: Happy Thoughts from My Life with and without Parkinson's!

It's official! This year is the Jack Morris birthday! That means that on Sunday, I will have taken 47 trips around the sun. So rather than waste time with that which causes me many anxious moments, I focus on my happy day of the year, which is always celebrated in honor of a baseball player who wore the number (in this case, a Hall of Famer who out-dueled John Smoltz in a memorable Game 7 of the 1991 World Series).

Here are 47 happy thoughts for my happy day.

1. Fellow Parkies and Parkinson's Warriors... you rock!

2. The wisdom to know that faith, philosophy, and beliefs / outlook aren't based on the horrific misdeeds of other humans who "claim" to be a part of them (thus making me want to abandon my faith altogether), but rather in knowing that they exist in understanding spiritual / religious ideas as a greater concept by a greater being. That said, people who use their "faith" for the kind of evil I'm referencing have a special Hell awaiting them. Methinks their meeting will be "problematic."

3. The Throne Room on the Standing Stone Trail in Pennsylvania - I'll be there tomorrow.

4. Spruce Knob on the Mid-State Trail. I'll be there on Sunday, sitting in the cat bird's seat / concealed bird watching area.

5. Being in nature is a good thing. Between the trees means letting my worries drift off and my belly melt off!

6. Vistas like Butler Knob (I'll be there Saturday) inspire with such infinite panoramas.

6. Trying to sell my wife on camping at Butler Shelter on the Standing Stone Trail.

7. Where are my friends the bears?

8. Granted, I'd rather see one alive, but my wife might have words about that.

9. Memories of that time I saw the bear cubs scurrying down the Batpole near Priceless Point on the Standing Stone Trail!

10. Sitting fireside this weekend with my wife while we cabin camp at Raystown Lake!

11. Being mellow and reading by the water's edge at Raystown tomorrow.

12. Magic fire colors... fun! fun! fun!

13. The volcanic planet of Mustfar and the days when Star Wars meant something.

14. Feeling like I'm owed a real-life rattlesnake sighting this weekend... from a safe distance

15. Family and love are a good thing!

16. Memories of the Muir Woods in California.

17. Memories of the coolest city in America - New Orleans.

18. Dreaming about going back to New Orleans!

19. Memories of Cancun, Mexico!

20. Dreaming about Rome.

21. Dreaming about seeing the Great Gallery.

22. Watching travel videos of Greece with my wife since she's dreaming about them.

22. Marketing my books for a greater audience!

23. Dreaming about seeing the Faroe Islands.

24. Writing places into my story (like the Faroes) because I want to see them. Yes, it's a poor substitute, but it works for now.

25. This island castle (Loreto) is too cool (and it's in Italy).

26. My nephew Dylan, who is obsessed with gators, snakes, and lizards.

27. Getting to see the Hunchback of Notre Dame this year. And no, it's not about an Indiana college.

28. Blue ube and raspberry ice cream from Fox Meadow's Creamery.

 29. Friends of the family who look out for us (my mom's friend Linda made this prayer shawl for me).

30. Playing with the puppies at the mall.

31. My wife who is all about home repair and refurbishing!

32. Getting a really cool poster made from my book's cover.

33. My attempt at inspiration via bulletin board at work.

34. Inspiration is a good thing.

35. Laughing at mindless comedies is a good thing (Happytime Murders).

36. Music to rock out to (Elf Power - Nothing's Going to Happen)

37. Pearl Jam's live CDs to download.

38. 9 years of marriage and many more to come.

39. First days of school... even if I won't be teaching this year.

40. Free breakfast at work day.

41. A wife who can make anything fit in her car.

42. Libraries for books, CDs, DVDs, and so much else.

43. Michael J. Fox and Foundation for everything you did, do, will do.

44. Health Union's Parkinson's division to post my writing.

45. The fact I don't wear a mustache anymore (that ended soon after this age 20 photo).

46. The fact that, at some point, Beyonce's career and ruining of Jay's music has to come to an end. Seeing as her last good song came out in 2007....

47. Friends like you for reading my writing until the end and who follow me on Facebook, Google, and all else (especially in real life - gracias!)!

10 Happy / Feel Good Thoughts / Pursuits for the Beginning of June

Currently, I am in one of those states of time where a lot of things are happening / have to happen all at once. I have a lot of great blog ideas, but I'm writing them in shorter form for www.parkinsonsdisease.net . I encourage you to read their great selection of writers as well as other favorite blogs that include

PERKY PARKIE

SHAKE RATTLE BE WHOLE

If I should be reading / promoting your blog, send me a link. I haven't had time to get around lately, but I will make time. I promise!

This is because I'm writing my Parkinson's book as well. I have a lot of stuff that I want to use for that, and I'd rather inflate their size to book length and share them later. Ideally, I need to get done in the next month so I can get quotes approved, the book edited, and the book printed so I can have a new book by the time a potential selling date comes around. I have a long time to go and short time to get there, as Waylon Jennings used to sing. Thus, I'm concentrating on that right now. It's going to be called Swimming with Lieutenant Dan (from Forrest Gump), and it will detail my Parkinson's struggles, my life before PD, confronting avalanches, educating / advocating, and how to make peace with loss. I'm really jazzed on it!

1. So what's out there rocking my Parkie world?" you may ask.

By day, I have been proctoring admissions tests for a community college. What does that mean to you other than I'm shifting my gainful employment around? It means that you're NEVER too old and it's NEVER too impossible to learn something new. This doesn't have to be about getting a class or a degree, but if you feel you can and you've got the support, then do.

2. Maybe learning is just figuring out what the flowers in your wife's garden are!

3. Maybe it's sitting back and listening to a really great writer read the works of another author! I recommend listening to the Galway Kinnell version of Walt Whitman's "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life."

4. I've been so busy lately that I haven't even had time to update my photo album with California photos, so I'll give you some to choose from, and you can tell me what part of California that you want to unwind from your day to day concerns at! Here's the neat thing. All 5 places are worthy of winning, so you can't go wrong. Enjoy! And by the way, remember your bucket list can be filled as soon as you compile it and get to work on it! It's your life, and it's your world. Live it out to the maximum! Don't let Parkinson's win!!

The first 3 are the Big Sur coast... those are elephant seals!

The next 3 are Hearst Castle (sans all the statues in need of undies).

The next 3 are Lake Tahoe!

The next 3 are the Muir Woods. The canopy is so thick that it's kind of dark in there.

Then we have Yosemite. How can you go wrong with waterfalls?!

5. If you can't marvel at California's redwoods, look up in your own backyard!

6. Why not get artsy / craftsy? For instance, my wife likes doing stained glass. I don't have that talent, but I celebrate that of other people! This table top is now getting moved to a new home as my wife sold her wares to a friend!

7. Why not redecorate the house with memories and art work?!!

8. Maybe you can watch your favorite movie or a new television show. In my down time in front of the computer, I'm currently watching Bull Durham (life advice, baseball, literature, and humor - how can you go wrong?!!)

If you prefer funny gal-centric stuff, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is back on Netflix. 

9. Play your favorite music and feel good!

John Lennon / George Harrison (mashup) - Sick to Death

Yo La Tengo - Cherry Chapstick

Ozzy Osbourne - Over the Mountain (live)

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.

Or just the songs that get stuck in your head!

10. And keep in mind, if you need to be entertained in air conditioning, the library has plenty of books, CDs, DVDs, and goodies to keep you occupied! Really.

BONUS - This year, the Phillies are really hot. Nobody expected this, but it's weird to hear my parents religiously following them and watching more baseball because of it. Having something like that to get behind goes a long way to happiness. I've never been a Phillies fan, but I'm definitely feeling the command on Aaron Nola's pitching game!

Thanks for reading!

Have a great 1!