Parkinsons – not welcome #elderlyissues #atozchallenge #poetry

Hard to move

hands and feet are one with metal

I’m pushing my stroller

big wheels are on a wheelchair

I want to slump in fatigue

enveloped in an old body

muscles feel like jello

“Keep moving”

“Reach for the Moon”

 

There is no easy diagnosis for the elderly.

Parkinsons joins the ranks of “Not this” “How will I deal with this disease?”

I’ve been impressed by elderly men and women who have faced the disease straight on.  Astronaut Michael Rich Clifford made his third trip to space (on NASAs shuttle Atlantis) after being diagnosed with Parkinsons.

“People don’t die from Parkinson’s they die from something else.” My instructor told our class recently.

My mentor from childhood has Alzheimers and her husband has Parkinsons. At 90, he continues to work on projects and they both walk (more slowly) and climb up their 100 stairs every morning.

I have several clients with Parkinsons and a family member. I’ve noticed one attribute in each of them – they never give up.

Like every disease exercise is necessary as is a good diet and lots of water.

How do you persist in these uncertain days???

 

 

Oodles of Planes #smithsonian #photography

 

 

 

All ages

captivated by flying

out of air

 

When I think of prolific I think of the number of aircraft at the Annual Innovations in Flight.  From Hot air balloons to planes that break the sound barrier, it’s a great day spent at Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum in Chantilly Northern Virginia.

Set this day aside if your love old cars, old aircraft, history and a fun day.  This year it will be held on June 16th. Did I mention that it is FREE??? The only cost is for parking. Please join us for prolific amount of AIR!!!!

 

This week’s wordpress photo prompt is prolific

An Invisible Dragon #atozchallenge #children #dragons

I’m breaking with my theme “Children” and poetry slightly for today. My pet dragon and his best friend Emily insisted. This is an excerpt from the book we are working on “Raising a dragon in the 21st Century.”

 

 

Today my class went on a cool field trip to the Air and Space Museum. There are really old planes and even a space shuttle. I imagined being in the cockpit of the Discovery as it shot into space on the back of a rocket.  I was adjusting my space suit when…

“Look up there,” one of the students pointed.  “That red airplane is moving. Do you think it will fall?”

“Those airplanes are well secured so they wont fall.” Our tour guide assured us.

“It’s like the movie Night at the museum,” another student said as we watched several of the airplanes rocking back and forth on their thin cables.

The tour guide stepped away from our class and got on her walkie.  I saw her lips mouth “Is it safe for these children…”

Then I noticed the shadow of a dragon wing brushing against a plane.

“Drag,” I hissed, “get over there.” I pointed to the bathrooms as I stomped over to the corner out of sight. “What are you doing here?”

“Emily, when I heard you were going to a place where there were flying things I wanted to see them too.  Not one of them will talk to me.”

“Hmmm. You thought you would find another dragon at the museum?”

Drag’s eyes got big as he nodded.

“Ohhh Drag, I’m sorry. All these things are machines. As far as I know, you are the only living dragon.”

“That’s too bad.” Drag made a face at the winged machines.

“Please stay right next to me until we get outside. Then I want you to fly straight home. No more touching airplanes. And you need to stay invisible.”

“Ok Em,” my dragon wiggled his eyes.

I giggled and crossed my eyes.

You can’t be too careful where you go when you are raising a dragon in the 21st century…

“Hi – If you are visiting from the A to Z challenge can you please not tell my papa you saw me. He get’s worried about my pet dragon and incidents and stuff I don’t understand yet.”

~ Thanks Em

 

Space the final… #onewordprompt #fiction #amwriting

I packed my bags and my books

looking back my spaceship shook

always forward never back

all I need in my backpack

letting go of things behind

journey toward the edge of time

space was once the final frontier

but now its just a normal year

thrusters on toward dreams

looking forward to space ice cream

Today’s One Word Prompt  at WordPress – “Journey”

Bird’s Eye View #aviation #photochallenge

avian wings spread

man strive for winds of change

flight patterns the same

The WordPress Photochallenge this week is “Look Up”

So many great things to see as you are looking up in our world – enjoy.

Opposites #aviation #photography #haiku

 

wind plays with balloon

 traveler cant wait for heat 

jet propelled

What’s your preferred mode of transportation?

This week’s photochallenge at wordpress is “opposites” 

 

Balloon #dailypost #photography #haiku

color confusion

birds continue their routine

out of steam

 

Today’s Daily Post  prompt is Empty. The people in line for a balloon ride at Innovations in Flight were disappointed as the Smithsonian’s balloon was emptied of hot air.

Aerodynamic #writing #aviation #poetry

Lift, weight, drag

nature needs no calculation

elements take flight

*

birds effortless soar

seasons provide inspiration

view from the eyrie

*

uncontrolled the wind

my mind shifts to the stars

blinded by moon dust

 

The prompt for Poet’s United Midweek Motif is “Wind Power.” 

Photo: Exhaust pipes Space Shuttle Discovery ©moondustdesigns 2014