Tuesday, January 11
Early this morning I walked to the kitchen and there was a spring to my step, it was completely spontaneous and natural. It lasted a few minutes then faded, but was the first time I could walk that way in at least two years.
I walked morning and evening for a total of nearly 1.5 kilometers, not perfect form but not bad either.
I think my marathon sleeps are over, replaced by a totally screwy schedule, but good sleep and a reasonable number of hours.
Typing is mixed.
There are no straight lines in recovery.
Wednesday, January 12
The marathon sleeps are over. I woke at 04:15 and had nary a promise of sleep again. I am, in fact, unusually alert, the wakefulness owed nothing to discomfort. But Lord knows I tried. I finally gave up at 07:15.
Had a wonderful session with Monika on Alexander Technique. We found lots of tension in the upper body, but rather looser than usual in the lower. That might explain why walking this morning felt like my legs were made of rubber.
Two naps were successful in that they made twenty minutes seem like forty.
The evening’s twelve garage laps where stronger than this morning, not as strong as yesterday. Nature still knows no straight lines, so it’s okay. I frankly feel terrific.
Thursday, January 13
First sleep, two hours. One hour working on my play, second sleep six hours, and perfect. Roman had a surprise for me in the sitting room. While I slept he removed all the stuff that has not been in use for months. Such a gift!
Legs are rubber. Movement is slow. Agility various but mostly awkward. And I felt wonderful all day. I’m embarrassed to admit that the glow was dimmed a bit by trial watchings of two movies both of which the first twenty minutes threatened to depress me for opposite reasons. At least I had the good sense to quit.
We took an evening walk at the Duomo. It was cold.
My voice has been full, relaxed, and resonant since Tuesday. My vision became a little fuzzy today, like my prescription is suddenly wrong.
Friday, January 14
Slept well but with an oversized period between first and second sleep.
Walking the Duomo last evening made my ankle a tiny bit sore, so we opted for a short garage walk at the conclusion of which Roman proposed we wheel out to San Giovenale. The air was crisp and dry, the light beautiful, and he went slow. Once there he placed me in the sun and let me doze “like an old cat”. It was pleasurable beyond description.
A sweet hour’s nap followed lunch.
A jovial meeting in the garage with Hans, Ida and their Jack Russel Terrier, Amber was followed by a pretty clean kilometer. Legs are still rubbery, typing is exceptionally random, voice is still strong, and vision still fuzzy.
I feel fantastically well.
Saturday, January 15
Woke feeling very alert, and that lasted through the morning. My muscles were also tight and I expected to have a difficult time walking, but our garage laps were pretty easy, and even included some rocking with the stride and some swinging of arms. In deference to a slightly sore ankle we stopped at five laps.
I am very aware of how important attitude is; there is no room for self-pity, non-acceptance, or impatience. That certainly applies to recovery from PD and probably applies to most everything else.
First sleep last night was four hours spent in sprawling, informal positions. Intermission was two hours, second sleep three. Then after lunch my state of high alert suddenly vanished, and I napped in the recliner for almost three hours, the last half with legs crossed.
Ten garage laps happened early because of a Zoom meeting at five (a read-thru of Soup).
Vision is clear again, voice became a little fuzzy.
Sunday, January 16
There was no first sleep last night. No lack of comfort prevented me from sleeping before nearly 05:00, only the fact that I was not the least bit tired. The upshot was two hours sleep, but I woke with such joy. After breakfast and getting dressed for the outdoors, we waited an hour for the fog to break and I got an hour’s nap that I devoured like a wood oven pizza. Afterwards, I was asleep on my feet so Natalia suggested a passaggiata in the wheelchair. Wisps of fog remained at first and a handful of tourists scattered across the piazza, but by the time we reached the Duomo there was sun and the number of people had multiplied. We went slowly along and the beauty of it all was overwhelming. I often find myself overcome with joy these days.
Voice is a little phlegmy but otherwise clear. Vision is clear. Typing is various.
Monday, January 17
Feet of lead, legs of rubber. Walked a kilometer, just the same, but nothing gracefully. For the past couple of days my right arm has been relaxed and quiet 90 percent of the time; that is a gift.
The anti-skid socks I wear are showing holes so Roman got me a pair with Disney characters on them. “How are the Gypsy Day socks?” he asked. “The what?” “They are American animated characters, you know them!”
I tried later to explain how Chip ‘n Dale was a play on words, and while it was fun trying, I’m not sure I did a very good job.