Our July Support Group Meeting: Annual Parkinson's Pinic

 AN INVITATION 

Summertime, and the livin' is easy... unless you have Parkinson's Disease, in which case the livin' is difficult, no matter what the season. It is however, easier than the livin' in Winter, and that calls for a celebration. But how to acknowledge this season of nature's bounty and torrid 80 degree heat? I know, let's have a potluck! It's fun, low-stress, and more important, it's a tradition. So, without further hemming and hawing, throat clearing and fidgeting, preambles, introductions or brief remarks, I am happy, proud, pleased, pumped, excited, psyched, thrilled to the gills and grateful to announce the social event of the season, The Annual Anchorage Parkinson's Disease Support Group Official Summer Picnic Potluck Pig-Out (TAAPDSGSPPP-O) will take place Saturday, July 21, 3:30 p.m. at the ever-popular Singing Fiddle Ranch, a.k.a Pete and Pam's (Lower) Hillside Hide Away, or, more simply "Our House".

 WHAT TO BRING 

Who am I to tell you what to bring? it's a freakin' POTLUCK, for the love of mud. You bring whatever you would like to share, and we will silently judge you for your taste in, well, food. We will provide bread, cold cuts, cheese, cups, festive paper plates, copious napkins and flatware, some starter beverages and a warm welcome. You supply the amiable company and the rest of the edibles. What could possibly go wrong, aside from light head injuries like last year?

If you are really stuck on the question of what to bring, consider foods that are healthy for those of the Parkinson's Persuasion. See my blog post about a Parkinson's approved diet here

 HOW TO GET THERE 

To find our house is simplicity in itself. Go by your chosen mode of transportation to the intersection of Abbott and Elmore roads. (near Service High) Head South on Elmore road to find our place, 9601 Elmore Road, about a quarter mile on. Look for the long driveway to our single story ranch-style house with a green metal roof, on your left about halfway up a small hill, just past a largish house with a chain link fence. We have ample parking, so come on over! Questions? (907) 350-9691.

Parkie Prophet Predicts Panoply of PD-related Summer Meetings

Who can say what the future holds? Well, good news, I can! At least as far as next two meetings of the distinguished APDSG are concerned. Our upcoming meeting will be held June 16th. We will have a presentation on hallucinations and delusions in PD from Gail Howshikowa. Gail is a drug company salesperson. She works for the company that makes  NUPLAZID ® (pimavanserin). Touted as "the first and only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease pychosis." 

 

The wise and moderate Ron Broom and I have a disagreement about people giving presentations on subjects they have a financial stake in. Ron objects to such presentations on the grounds of conflict of interest. I agree this is true, they have a conflict. But I also think if you know that the presenter has something to sell, you can size up what they have to say and judge for yourselves.  And I believe it will make for  a good meeting topic. So that is  our June meeting.

What is happening on our July 21 Meeting? It's the Summer potluck! This promises to be the PD event of the season. For one thing,  it will be held away from our regular meeting place. Instead the potluck venue will be my house. Directions to follow.

What to bring? I say bring whatever you like. It's a potluck, after all. If you need more guidance than "whatever", how about bringing something that is particularly apropos to a healthy anti-Parkinson's diet? You can find out what foods are good for people with PD here. We'll meet to eat at our usual time, 3:30. Looking forward to seeing you all. If you have any pull with whomever is in charge of the weather, put in a word for Sun in Anchorage

on July 21!

Thus spake Peter, Supreme Grand Exalted Parkie