Christmas is coming | Wearing Off

Christmas is coming

22 Nov 2011 by Chris Boughton

There are still five weeks to go until Christmas Day but the madness is already well underway. Advertisements for Christmas presents are dominating our commercial TV screens, newspapers are choked with leaflets and catalogues, and shop windows are ablaze with lights and decorations. The Griswald (Chevy Chase – Christmas Vacation) brigade is also in full flow lighting up the outside of their houses and gardens despite the high rise in electricity costs this year. It always amazes me the excesses that some people go to in celebration of Christmas with total disregard to the prevailing economic climate. I guess apart from the historic religious connections and celebrations there are all the issues concerning the distraction from the stresses of our everyday lives and the associated feel good factor. At the moment I personally have more than enough distraction from my life with Parkinson’s disease (PD). I have submitted two essays (1,000 words each; one for history and one for sociology) in the past month and I have two more to write and submit before we break for the Christmas holiday period. Over the holidays I have another 2,000 word essay to write and 1,000 word book review, both for history. Then there is a two hour sociology exam in early January and also a portfolio of work to be completed and submitted for sociology. Even if PD would allow me to climb ladders to nail hundreds of lights to the outside of my house, the demands of my History/Sociology degree course would have to take priority. But as I said in my last blog “nobody said it was easy”. I wait nervously for the feedback and grades for my first two essays.

There is a forty year age gap between the oldest (me) and the youngest student on my course but it is wonderful how the shared adversity of these first few essays has brought us all together. There is a sense of working as a team to support and assist each other, independent of social, economic or age differences. One of my fellow students set up a private group Facebook page which has so far been invaluable. I was concerned when I first embarked on this course that I would be seen as just an old man with PD and that I would feel isolated by this. The reality is totally the opposite. PD struck brutally at college one day earlier this week, with my back going into a very painful spasm. It was impossible to concentrate or study and I was forced to go home halfway through the lesson. Later that evening one of the other students scanned and emailed numerous hand-outs to me, totally unprompted. She also emailed me clear instructions on the homework from the two lessons for that day. This was such an amazing act of thoughtfulness and kindness – well I thought so until I saw how much work was entailed (I jest of course)! To a lesser extent I have helped some of the younger students with their IT issues. For me there is no doubt that helping each other is wonderfully cathartic. My college degree course is bringing far more good than just distraction into my life.

It is often said that necessity stimulates innovation but from my experiences at college so far (just seven weeks), necessity can stimulate kindness too.

My youngest son runs in a half marathon this weekend to raise funds for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust. Two weeks ago as a warm up he ran in the Cambridge Bonfire Burn 10K race, finishing a commendable 93^rd out of 721 entries in a time of 43 min 45 sec. Thankfully the weather forecast looks ok for his race on Sunday.

Chris

About the Author

Chris Boughton
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in February 2004 at the age of 51 having experienced undiagnosed symptoms for at least 4 years prior to that. My wife and I have five adult children and three grandchildren. We are fortunate in that we live in a lovely rural part of the east of England, with King’s Forest situated nearby for my much needed, therapeutic dog walks. I spent most of my working life involved in electronic, mechanical manufacturing management within the Worldwide Broadcasting industry and I am extremely lucky to have travelled extensively through my work. Since I was diagnosed I have dedicated much of my time to researching all aspects of PD and trying to both support others with this illness and raise the profile of PD. As well as writing a blog on this website, I administer an internet patient forum for people with PD which I set up in September 2008 and it currently has over 150 members. I also administer the forum’s Facebook, Friends Reunited and Twitter pages. My younger son recently ran in a half marathon race to raise funds for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. I am currently studying for a BA (Hons) in English and History as a mature student.

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