NOTICE J OF __________COT______ (fill in the blanks-) ID test

 I lost your  address.  Give it to me again.I have a book for you

How goes the battle?

 Take it from me:

There are two signs of PD that arise (in most cases), well before your physical problems, that should be mentioned to your doctor as possible precursors to a diagnosis of PD:

                1.  Loss of sense of smell.   It gets to the point that you could be knee-deep in manure and you     cannot smell anything.  Diddly squat, nothing, rien!  Advantageous - yes but not when you stand near or, if you've a mind to, in a pile of shit.  Not so good if there is a gas leak.

                  2.  Disappearing handwriting.  I was helping my son study for an exam by making study notes on recipe cards.  My writing hand would tighten up and the letters would get smaller and more illegible, like old man's handwriting.  Cashing a cheque and having it honoured, becomes hit and miss with the unavoidable change in your written signature as time goes by.  I can no longer write.

THE MAN IN THE ATTIC

The man in the attic

with the run-away shoes

will be running to win but

is likely to lose

trying to decipher

which lane he should choose

to escape a really harsh encounter

 

There are only two roads

which one should he take

one stops at the airport

the other's a fake

he could last forever

if given a break

he might even live 'til tomorrow 

 

so he shaves off his beard

and whitens his cheeks

he has to be careful

which language he speaks

he looks in mirror

he thinks he's complete

but the mirror is broken and shattered

 

He tightens his runners

and pulls down his hat

his former employer

knows where he's at

but just in case

he carries a bat

But the bat's not a Louisville slugger

 

 

He recites the Koran

as moves through the streets

taking some comfort

from the words he repeats

but Taliban's waiting

there are no retreats

and the plane is now on the runway

 

Taliban curses

he shows no surprise

the fool thinks he's fooled him

with his western disguise

but Taliban smells him

and sees fear in his eyes

and he brandishes a whip made from leather

 

run-away shoes 

no time to react

but he feels the bite 

of the whip on his back

he turns to confront him

he means to attack

but he is no fighter this runaway runner

 

he swings his cheap bat 

but it misses the man

so he starts running faster

than ever he ran

he hides in a corner

to fool Taliban

and at first he seems like the winner

 

 

while hidden, he pictures

a land made of snow

and freedoms that promise

to let your mind flow

no need for translation

in  knowledge we'll grow

if we avoid the backwash of our burden

 

 

Taliban raises his pistol

no weary word said

he's a war-weary veteran

no fear of the dead

a twitch of his finger

and as A  leads to Zed

he can smile at the body before him

 

On the plane there is high jubilation

as it leaves Afghani airspace

just one lonely seat being empty

a symbol of a nation's disgrace

You asked for it Margaret and here it is.  Thanks again for your comments last night and in your review.  They mean a lot coming from you.

The state of the battle in the year 2021

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological disease on the planet outpacing Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS and Stroke. Canada has the highest incidence of PD in the world and Manitoba has the highest incidence in Canada. 

Help U-Turn Parkinson's | 204-510-4869 | www.uturnparkinsons.org fight the good fight.

                           DONATE AT THE WEBSITE

Join us in fighting back against PD. Your donation will empower those living with Parkinson's and help make a difference in their lives today.

We rely on the support of individuals, foundations and corporations to fund the classes we offer: Rock Steady Boxing Winnipeg, Yoga Parkinson's and U-Tunes.

A Conspiracy of Doubt

There are three new pretenders in Manitoba education, Mr Clifton, Mr  Long and Mr Narth (Winnipeg Free Press October 12th 2021).   In an article, they argue that with the death of bill 64, we must revisit Manness/Mackinnon report or as I call it call it 64 Lite.

 

The pretenders seem to assume there is something wrong wth Manitoba schools and there is,  the curriculum does need updating, there is a lot of useless information.  In some case, there is subject matter only  useful to a child in the 1960's.

Rigidity in the curriculum and a reduction of the tyranny in the system are both required, but we'll take that up another time.

Let's start with mathematics.  The pretenders panic when they see that the gods have not seen fit to make Canada rank higher in the world rankings.  One institute that puts out such a list ranks Canada as 10th out of 72 countries (may have slipped to 11th)  while the USA is ranked 35th (may have arisen to 28)  Canada is doing well but we are not number 1 ( Singapore is #1).

We Canadians would like to be higher in the rankings, but not by Asian methods.  (look them up)  The pretenders think the answer somehow is found in standardized testing.  The don't say how tests will help but they recommend using those developed in the USA.

Hmmmm.....Canada 10th........USA........28th.

Want to explain how those tests are going to help?????       

...........and now we breakaway for a commercial

"The Gate and Other Poems on a Life's Journey, " Poetry by Doug Jodan, Photos by Sidney Shapira (FriesenPress,  2021) is now available from the FriesenPress on-line bookstore, as well as from amazon, amazon.ca and chapters/indigo Kenaston. Locally, McNally Robinson Booksellers Grant Park is stocking the softcover. Call ahead to reserve your copy! 

Go to www.thegatepoetry.ca for live links to the on-line catolgues.

Please purchase our book! Then, please leave a short review on the above websites, with the book listing, or on Goodreads. Reviews sell books. We need you to purchase a book, as well as to leave a review on the above sites, or leave a comment on the www.thegatepoetry.ca site.

Thank-you so much for your support.

The gentle lady has PD

 I decided to take a late dinner and I was sitting at a table by myself when a couple, around my age, asked to join me.  We spoke of their farm, now being run by their son; how long we each had lived in the manor; where I was from. You know, small talk and it was during this talk that I confessed to having Parkinson's.

A soft "Me too".  The lady had PD but the only noticeable symptom was her barely discernible voice.

EUREKA!!!!!

I now know how people hear me and I intend to get my voice up to, or near 50 decibels

 I hope get to know the couple and to share their table frequently.  I will offer help to my sister in PD.

When I arose, she looked into my eyes and said,  "Somebody (God?) sent me to this table today".

I am enough of a believer to believe.  Someone is looking over us.  

Amen

Land of ice and snow - A Canadian failure

Here is draft one of a poem concerning Canada's lack of assistance to Afghani comrades. I call it" land of ice and snow"Please comment

The man in the attic

with the run-away shoes

running to win but

is likely to lose

trying to decipher

which lane he should choose

to escape a really harsh encounter

 

There are only two roads

which one should he take

one stops at the airport

the other's a fake

he could last forever

if given a break

he might even live 'til tomorrow 

 

so he shaves off his beard

and whitens his cheeks

he has to be careful

which language he speaks

he looks in mirror

he thinks he's complete

but the mirror is broken and shattered

 

He tightens his runners

and pulls down his hat

his former employer

knows where he's at

but just in case

he carries a bat

But the bat's not a Louis Ville slugger

 

 

He recites the Koran

as he moves through the streets

taking some comfort

from the words he repeats

but the  Taliban's waiting

there are no retreats

and the plane is now on the runway

 

He throws his cheap bat 

but it misses the man

so he starts running faster

than ever he ran

he hides in a corner

to fool Taliban

and at first he seems like the winner

 

while hidden, he pictures

a land made of snow

and freedoms that promise

to let your mind grow

no need for translation

just let knowledge flow

and it all flows in a certain direction

 

Taliban raises his pistol

no warrior's word being said

without any fear of  the here-after

without any fear of the dead

Taliban twitches his finger

and sends a bullet through running man's head

he has notched another before breakfast

On the plane there is vast jubilation

as it leaves Afghani airspace

just one lonely seat being empty

a symbol of a nation's disgrace

BTW I published a book of some of my poems.  It is called "the Gate" andI believe it is available on Amazon - Sid detail in comments