It's been a good minute since I last wrote in this blog.
I could give you excuses. So, I will. OK, mostly reasons, right? To be honest, there are a few things that have kept me from posting.
Apathy - this is something more frustrating than I anticipated when I was originally diagnosed. It is cyclical like other symptoms, so when I feel like "me" I tend to revisit priorities and remind me what is important.
Inability - I can't tell you how many times I started to type this, only to get frustrated and give up. Then I'd try voice dictation but would just feel exhausted. You don't want to know how many posts are in "draft" state.
Paralysis - of course after a period of time, it's tempting to hit ALL of the topics I've missed in one single blog post. Then it becomes paralysis from over-analysis. Nope. Just, nope.
"So, Jeremy, what changed?"
I'm SO glad you asked.
Quite frankly, I feel not only quite good today, but I also feel like me.
My symptoms have continued to progress. My left side tremors from my feet to my neck. My left arm tremor is so intense that I can barely type sometimes. Thank goodness it's not all of the time, but it comes up frequently, especially in the dreaded "off" time between doses of medication. My movement disorder specialist has done a splendid job of helping me chase the moving target of peace and serenity, and after multiple tweaks I'm finally on a decent dosing schedule.
The hardest part for me isn't physical. It's mental. I actually think I deal with the depression and anxiety quite well. I recognize them as chemical beasts and focus on transforming my thoughts until the episode passes. Apathy is much harder to tackle. It has made it incredibly tough to maintain a consistent workout routine, keep my hygiene at the level it should be, and although it hasn't changed my passion for astrophotography, the side effect of my ropinirole is an obsessive-compulsive behavior that has me doing things like spending an entire weekend reorganizing my office.
It's tough to fight something like this, but I do have a strategy. I turn 50 next week on September 22nd, a day I share with Bilbo and Frodo Baggins of Lord of the Rings fame. I've always planned on it being the halfway mark in life for the things I can control, recognizing we can all go at any moment. Today, I can type. I have a clear head. I am functioning well. So now is when I set my goals and commitments and make them non-negotiable to my apathetic self. The next 50 year are going to require it!
I'm at the airport, about to fly in for a few days on campus. I have a new role at my company and am looking at it as an opportunity to rededicate my discipline and passion for work and also insulate it from apathy. In my professional sphere, apathy tends to lead to procrastination, so I focus on "eating the frog" and doing the things I least want to do first, so they don't get put off.
I will exercise. I will start my supplement regimen again. I'll stay on top of hygiene, and I refuse to let this disease affect my performance at work or with my professional hobby of astrophotography.
OK, now you've heard it. Let's celebrate the good that's happened since I last wrote.
I've recorded several episodes of the Young Onset Parkinson's Network (YOPN) podcast with some amazing co-hosts. After four years of serving on the board of directors, I am excited to share YOPN has joined the PMD Alliance. I'm so proud of what Anna created and where she was able to drive this vision through her courageous and unwavering leadership and faith in her advisors.
I captured some of my best Milky Way shots ever.
I photographed one of the most intense geomagnetic storms in the past 500 years.
See the full gallery of Northern Lights.
I launched my 2025 Oregon coast astrophotography calendar early enough for people to pick it up in time!
Finally, I successfully launched my first full exhibition in a gallery! I also sold several dozen bespoke astrophotography art pieces that will help me invest in more advanced equipment to capture the beautiful days and nights we are blessed to witness.
So, I have much to celebrate. Summer is slipping away, and winter is steadily gaining strength. It'll be a shift from photographing galaxies to waves, but I love all of the seasons here and will weather my seasons of Parkinson's Disease as well. Thank you all for your support.
I promise to visit more often.
Until the next time,
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