Choice
Words International
Highlights
- PD Points
In April 2017, Marion became the official
Facilitator of Parkinson Canada's Downtown Parkinson Support Group (DPSG).
"It's an honour," she says. "I'm lucky to have this opportunity and very
fortunate in the strong support I get from Parkinson Canada."
The DPSG,
which meets in downtown Toronto once a month from September through June, is
for people with Parkinson's and their carepartners.
Marion began
attending in 2012 with her husband, who was diagnosed with PD in January of
that year. "It was an eye-opener from the start," she says. "We learned
something useful or interesting at every Meeting. We've also met many wonderful
people with fascinating backgrounds and textured lives. We always come away
enlightened."
Leading the Group is demanding, Marion says. The key to
good results is, of course, thorough prep and timely follow-up. As with any
significant volunteer commitment, however, the satisfactions are
significant. For more, check "Parkinson's Changes
Everything."
- Walking the Nostalgia Trail
One of Marion's
volunteer assignments morphed from being a hands-off marketing consultant to a
hands-on newsletter contributor. She has always enjoyed writing what she thinks
of sweetness and light pieces designed to bring smiles and nods of recognition.
For delicious samples, click
here.
- Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids
Yes, they
do, at live events held across the country by the GRTTWaKs team. The events,
hosted by Dan Misener, are later broadcast on CBC Radio 1. The main rules are
the writing has to be something done before age 18 and has to be read aloud by
the person who wrote it. Marion, who is a huge GRTTWaK's fan, read a letter she
wrote at age 11 to her 17-year-old sister.
It's absolutely
compelling
.
- Reading, writing, running, radio
and
food. These are some of my favourite things. Which is what made Saturday, June
13th, 2015, such a special day. I was, as usual on a Saturday, at the historic
St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto. It was a semi-sad day the last
for the Farmers' Market in the North Market building. The utilitarian concrete
block was due for demolition and redevelopment (a work now in progress). The
Saturday Farmers' Market had to move for the duration. So, a complicated day in
both logistics and emotions
.
On that "last" Saturday, Martin
Trainor's Come to the Market (CTTM) Internet Radio team talked to a
cross-section of vendors and shoppers.
Click
here for the interview with me. (It runs about 3 minutes.)
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