Creative Works   .....  Judith Giddings -  Amy Hester

Poem

By Amy Hester

An everlasting highway 

to the place where loved ones reside.

A gray sky hovering above;

mysterious does this view outside of my window seem.

"I am a man of constant sorrow,"  rings through my ears; 

as I join in song about the dead racoon 

lying on the side of the road.

Ah, these are the moments where I forget 

that reality is real.

The times when I become content 

without a single care in the world.

The trance in which I find true sanity; 

all beyond myself.

I feel as light as air, 

as I float into my special place.

The place where loved ones have never known 

that ignorance is bliss.

The place where men of joy, 

roam with well racoons.

I am the no name that everyone knows. 

So just call me sweet little baby, 

for I have stepped out of mind, 

and into the place where cherries grow on apple trees...

   Judith Giddings

I’ve always been a fairly creative person in the areas of music, teaching, writing, web design, and professional leadership in my field of special education. When I got PD I didn’t necessarily become more creative. However, some doors had closed for me, e.g., teaching, performing music, and professional writing. The first summer after diagnosis, I was pretty down and depressed, and it was my reconnection to my creative side that turned things around and got some good things going in my life that otherwise would never have happened.

After I connected with the PLWP community, I created a personal web site, The Edge of the Forest, which features nature photography by me and my family, my husband’s original creative therapeutic metaphors, a chat room and forum, plus stories, photos, and creative work of my PD friends. One thing led to another, and I designed a commercial website for a company that makes log stairways. In payment, I received the software package, Adobe Creative Suite and I am excited about learning how to use it for another site that is in the idea stage.

All these current creative efforts do wonders for my self-esteem and my feelings of purpose and value. I rarely have time to focus on the down side of Parkinson’s. I have found new ways to give to the world that in return provide me with strong good feelings.

Judith Giddings
Wellsboro, PA
Diagnosed with PD January 2002

http://www.edgeoftheforest.com

 http://www.edgeoftheforest.com/

http://www.logstairways.com

 http://www.logstairways.com/
Email contact: wgiddings@epix.net