The Benicia Parkinson’s Awareness Rally on April 12 was a revelation. Patients, caregivers, friends,
providers, and vendors packed Veteran’s Hall to hear from the experts on the latest breakthroughs and
best practices. With one million cases of Parkinson’s in the US, an expanding aging population means that
the number of cases will increase every year.
The Annual Bill Cawley Memorial walk around City Park and half-day program was sponsored by the
Benicia Parkinson’s Support Group under the leadership of Facilitator Carol Reed. David Batchelor, Chair
of the Benicia Community Foundation, a key sponsor, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Erin Nella, RD, CNSC, Nutrition Specialist at UC Davis described foods that can delay progression —
the rainbow of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and fish. Red wine can reduce the risk of
dementia and loss of brain function as you age. Red meat, bacon, ham, fried foods, are known to speed up
progression. The Mediterranean Diet and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative
Delay Diet are most effective for brain health. https://theofficialminddiet.com
“Parkinson’s didn’t exist until the Industrial Revolution,” said Dr. Suketu M. Kandhar, Chief of
Neurology & Medical Director for Movement Disorders Program, Kaiser Permanente. “It’s a manmade
disease,” he began. “Some of the causes include: the herbicide Paraquat, TCE used in cleaning fluid and
as a degreaser, and the weed killer Roundup. Due to the lack of a definitive test for the disease, the
average time before a Parkinson’s patient sees a neurologist is about two years,” he said.“A diagnostic test
is coming very soon, as are new and more accurate delivery systems for medications.”
“What does it mean to live well? ” was the topic of Dr. Eric Egli, Ph.D, Psychologist. “It means, holistic
health, being active, intentional, and balanced,” he said. “The worst thing you can do is to avoid activity
and exhibit anti-social behavior. Interacting with others socially is crucial to well being,” he said.
Today is Easter Sunday and am reminiscing about Easters past, a mix of the pagan and the Christian —
Easter on Balboa Island, sunrise services at the Hollywood Bowl, baskets, bunnies, dyed eggs, and jelly
beans, always working on my tan.
Dad, Mom, my two sisters, and I drove from LA to Phoenix every Easter to visit my grandparents, aunts,
and uncles. Foremost in our minds was finding a swimming pool as quickly as possible.
On travel day, Dad, a morning person, would turn on our bedroom lights, pull the covers off of us and say
“Rise and shine. It’s time to hit the road,” at 3 am in the morning. They made up our beds in the
Oldsmobile. Susan, on the back seat, me on the floor with the bump, and Janie on Mom’s lap in the front.
I was prone to car sickness and without fail on every trip would at some point say:“My cheeks are getting
watery!” That was a signal for Dad to pull over so that Mom could get me out of the car and behind a
bush. Sister Susan would hold her ears and sing really loudly so that she couldn’t hear my wretched
retching. “La la la la la, she would repeat until I finished hurling.
I would invariably soil my dress and Mom would hang it on the wind wing to dry as we proceeded to
Indio and breakfast at the Knotty Pine Cafe.I had a speech impediment and couldn’t pronounce my “R’s.” I was pulled out of class every week for
“Speech Class.” It was humiliating. All of the kids had trouble with their “S’s. I was the only “R-
challenged” child and would have to repeat, ad nauseam — “ray, ree, rye, row rum, being sure to roll my
R’s.
“Say rabbit,” the instructor said. “Wabbit,” I said. “No, say it like this — ‘errr rabbit.’ ” “Eww wabbit,” I
answered.
Meanwhile back at the Knotty Pine Cafe, we ordered breakfast, “I’ll have a woe woe,” I said. The
waitress looked confused. “What sweetie?” she said. “I said I’ll have a ‘woe woe.’ ” Again, a blank
stare. Trying to help, Susan said, “Give the kid a roll.” And that was that.
After eight or nine hours of driving, we’d arrive in Phoenix. “Is the RONS Club open yet?” we’d ask.
RONS stood for Reserve Officers of the Naval Services. Uncle Jack was a Navy man and the Club had a
big, beautiful pool, much nicer than the municipal pools we were used to. I would spend hours mostly
underwater. Poolside, my aunts were glamorous in their chic one piece Jantzen swim suits.
We went to church every Sunday. I asked Mom if I could get an Easter dress like the other kids. She
corrected me.“We don’t call them Easter dresses; they are Sunday dresses,” she said. An Easter dress
sounded like we only went to church on Easter which definitely wasn’t the case.
I remember wearing a little white straw hat with tiny pink flowers and carrying a small basket purse. We
always wore short white gloves. Mom had a fuchsia pink hat covered with hundreds of silk petals. I think
the minister even commented on it from the pulpit.
A later tradition was Easter week in Mexico. The Legislature was given a week off, and I’d high tail it to
one of the colonial Mexican villages — Oaxaca, San Miguel, Morelia, Taxco, Guanajuato, in search of
Mexican crafts and the Semana Santa rituals of local churches. The processions in Antigua Guatemala
were the most spectacular where indigenous religious rituals and Catholicism peacefully coexisted —
sacrificial chickens on the mission steps, clouds of black incense, streets carpeted with flower petals and
colored sawdust as huge floats balanced on the shoulders of Mayan Indians transported the Virgin of
Guadalupe. Magnifico!
The Easter Bunny has gone corporate. Tomorrow, the President and First Lady will preside over the
rolling of some 30,000 eggs donated by the egg industry. Meta will provide an “AI-Powered Experience
and Photo Opportunity.” The First Lady, AG Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem,
and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will read stories at the Amazon Book Nook. YouTube has sponsored
the Bunny Hop Stage. Even the NY Stock Exchange will participate with a bell ringing opportunity.
From the sacred to the profane to the profligate. The money changers are back in the temple.
Letters From Benicia 