Writing Samples: "Chronic Illnesses"

While we entertain good health - or more accurately, while good health entertains us - we have a freedom surpassed only by the salvation of our souls. With proper health, we can carry out plans we made previously; we can confidently schedule activities, duties and desires; and we are able to act reflexively to whatever the moment may spontaneously bring. With good health a person can face situations undistracted by pain, discomfort, confusion and the side effects of medications, which one with a chronic illness must share each day. One born with such a malady, or an individual struck early in life, has nothing or little to refer to when comparing this day as being either good or bad.

Someone who is afflicted later in life, however, knows all too often that there were better times, with freedom to plan, with joyful anticipation and with excitement to conduct activities as desired. It is these beings upon whom I will offer my insight for just a moment. I am biased toward this group because I am one of them, encumbered with Parkinson’s Disease since 1992 at the age of 46.

The following are to me silent echoes all:
Yes, let’s invite them over for dinner this Saturday.
How about going out to see a movie tonight?
I will be happy to take on that writing job for you.
Let’s meet for lunch after church this Sunday.
I look forward to replacing my car this Spring.
I think I’ll join the bowling team again this Fall.

Phrases just like this are no longer part of my vocabulary. I do not make plans for neither a day from now nor for a season of bowling league into the future. I cannot rely upon my medications working as they are designed to do. As a result, I refrain from many of life’s enjoyments, fun times large or small, which should be simply a routine way of life - at least in our nation for a man in his early fifties. At the same time, because I stay home more often, I have more hours to reflect upon times when good health entertained me.

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