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A Wedding

by Amy Hester

Although I have been to many weddings in the past, I cannot say that any of them have been quite like the one held at good ole Frogtown Road on June 19, 2004. I found myself in the midst of some of the most brilliant minded people I have ever known, all of them being a bit out of the ordinary; all of them sharing one thing in common… Parkinson’s Disease.

I have been exposed to the “Parkie world” before, but I haven’t ever observed the things that I did on that very day. It amazed me to see how each and every Parkie there although sharing the same disease was affected so differently. I believe that people, who are uneducated about this disease, tend to stereotype persons with Parkinson’s into one group: Shaky people who seem to be out of their minds and who all seem to have the same symptoms that can be rid of when taking “meds”.

I have come to conclude that such a stereotype is a load of bull. Each person is in fact, affected differently. Each life is changed differently, each face, each body, each perspective on life and each family. Some get undying support from their loved ones and have a lot of moral support to keep them going while others are surrounded by people who are clueless to what they are going through and who seem to think that it is only in their head.

I feel that many Parkies are underestimated and every time I think about that one question comes to mind. How many people actually take the time to look beyond their disease? I cannot put a number to how many brilliant-minded people I have met who have Parkinson’s, each of them having an interesting story to tell and each of them having been (and still are) successful human beings.

It was a great experience to take part in the wedding of Greg and AJ. It was beautiful to see the two of them come together while being in the company of what I have come to know as the “Parkie Family.”

June 19, 2004 has created many unforgettable memories. I haven’t had as many laughs as I did throughout this entire thing in I don’t know how long. It was one of the most chaotic weeks that I have ever experienced and also one of the most entertaining as well.

To everyone who took part in this wondrous event I think that Eddie Izzard has a new fan club thanks to this wedding and I think he’d be very proud. So here’s a toast to running around like crazy, getting ready in a houseful/roomful of people who are rushing to get ready themselves, to experiencing the bumpy feeling of driving over cement blocks in a bakery parking lot and seeing Paula’s facial expression while all of this is going on, to seeing two amazing people come together as one… This day was not only beautiful but it was an inspiration as well. Never have I seen what I did on that day. You all came together to create something amazing. Thank you for allowing me to share this with all of you. Lastly, to Greg and AJ; congratulations to both of you as you embark in a new journey together. May you have a wonderful life together for you two really are a match made in heaven.