I have found that strangers can be compassionate, gracious and kind. You just need to ask.

[Precious44]

PD has stolen my ability to write, so many times I am in situations where I have to ask a stranger for help. When I have a deposit at the bank, I have to ask someone to fill out the deposit slip. I went to the post office on Friday (yesterday) I had a package that I needed mailed. I had a label on it but was unable to fill it out, while I waited in the line I asked the women behind me if she could fill it out for me. I explained to her that I have Parkinson's and I can't write. She was so gracious about it and even asked me question about PD.

I was in a second hand store about a week ago and was purchasing a jacket for my granddaughter, when I went to hand her my credit card, she said oh I don't take credit cards. Cash or I will take a check, here we go again, I said I could give her a check if she could fill it out,she was someone I had gotten to know about 7 years ago and she didn't know I had Parkinson's. So, when I asked her if she could fill out the check, she kind of looked at me funny, I explained I have Parkinson's and I can't write. She said how sorry she was that I had it and she would be more that happy to fill out the check.

Now, I'm not saying there aren't nasty people out there, but my experince has been that there are many, many caring, compassionate and kind people out there, which does my heart and soul good!

Just thought I would share some of the good stuff, instead of all negative.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening and a safe and sane holiday.

Look forward to hearing some of your stories of strangers kindnesses.

Hugs, Hugs, Hugs (the reason I give the hugs is because I need them)

Precious44 (Kathy)

[anthonyjohnrobinson]

I have found, once they discover I am not inebriated or lazy or just plain daft, that most people are helpful if not a little confused. Where are the shakes? I explain that not everyone has the tremors and the medication works, sometimes.

Communication on our part is the key, at the checkout of my local supermarket when asked if I needed a hand packing my reply if I do is usually “Yes please, I am not functioning very well today”, Today? There must be days when he does function. This is usually followed by a little conversation and a mini brief on my health and condition and we part if not as friends at least as nodding acquaintances.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, I always try to make a joke out of my condition or at least be light hearted it puts folk at ease and stops them from being embarrassed for you.

All this communication means that I’m on nodding terms with so many people I feel safe and when the Devil’s Puppeteer pulls his strings they are generally helpful and on more than one accession have come to my aid.

[superjanet in reply to anthonyjohnrobinson]

My husband, John, has now entered the stage of PD where he is increasingly immobile. We are losing count of the kind people (friends, acquaintances and strangers) who have helped him on or off his mobility, in or out of the car and rescued him when he has grounded the scooter owing to the lack of dropped kerbs (or when a car is parked across a dropped kerb!). It certainly makes like for both of us just that little bit less difficult.

[JANVAN in reply to anthonyjohnrobinson]

very good post !! for me it's even more important because I'm working (still),

in a country, that's not my home country........

[jillannf6]

hi

i have had manhy instances of when i have fallen and people have rushed to pick me up - the best has2 teb two 14 year old school boys who were v concerned about my freexing and hten falling wiht my 4 wheeled walker and went to the hairdressers to let them knwo i was having problems walkign there!

butit is best ot make a joke where possible and say i am not drunk a t11 am in the mornign etc etc

lol JIll

[PatV]

I have found the same. If I ask or sometimes without people hold the door for me & my walker. A smile helps & I get one back. Here in NYC no less.

[tlongmire]

I have also found people most helpful. There are more good people than bad. Thank God. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Hugs, Terri

[Sadiesadie]

I think and hope we can all recount stories like Precious, I know I can!! I truely believe that for the most part people are decent and kind and want to help if you need it. I know there may be a few "not so nice people" out there but I fortunately have not encountered any!!!

[wifeofparky]

I daily thank God for the help of strangers. My husband has PD. He is 6'3" and I am 5'4". There is little I can do when he falls down and we have always been helped by people to either stabilize him or to help him up. Before he starts to speak, he will say "I have Parkinson's, so bear with me." Most people give him the time he needs to get his thoughts across.

[Larry_H]

I too find the help of a stranger. More often than not. from making out checks, to paperwork, to holding door open. I have 14 men from my church in February to come to my home from 6-9pm to be with me while my wife work. What a blessing. Here we are in September and the guys still come as scheduled. What a wonderful way to get to know church family.

[JourneyzPath]

I recently had to go to an opthamologist to have one of my eyes dilated in preparation for a cataract surgery. My coordination and medication was not working at that time and I certainly wasn't seeing too well either. I tripped and fell on my knees and the contents of my purse went sprawling everywhere. If it had not been for the the receptionist who kept watching me walk out and came to my rescue,It would have been a lot more stressful than it was. God bless those who recognize that there is something wrong and care enough to help you .

[Koko]

THere I was on my knees on the floor in the middle of hundreds of slot mahcines in Las Vegas. My pill box completely opened up and fell to the floor scattering my pills every which way. I tried to pick them up but my fingers just couldn't . I wanted to cry I as so embarraced and people just sat there watching me. THen I looked up and saw these beautiful brown eyes and a precious smile of a young lady in her twenties, SHe had left her post at a slot machine and without a word knelt down beside me and picked the pills up and put them in my container. She didn't say a word, just returned to her post. ALl I could do was walk over to her and put my hand on her shoulder and say "THank you." I will never forget her face.