The hardware store

I probably visit my favorite hardware store on the island at least once a week, maybe more. It's very similar to the old fashioned stores and the staff on the floor helps you every step of the way. I had special help the other day.

The guy who offered to help me was an older guy, thin, big curled up moustache and a slow methodical way about him. I'm sure thats what most people see. I saw someone with parkinson's but how to bring up the subject? I could really offend him if I wash wrong or scare him if I was right and he didn't know it yet.

So when he was showing me how to attach a new plug to wiring, I said "I'm not sure I can do that when it is that small because I have Parkinson's disease and sometimes even on the meds I will have tremors."
He gasped and looked me in the eye and said "I have Parkinson's too!"

"I know" I replied.

"How did you know?"

"I just recognize the symptoms and guess pretty accurately,"

Well, from then on we talked like we had known each other forever. We kept moving to the back of the aisles because no one at the store knows about it. He has been diagnosed for only a year and is just on Mirapex, which is the way I started,

there is such a strong emotional connection when you find another PD patient and even though I feel that I wouldn't want to be in a support group.

What gives me away as a PD patient to others? the only visible thing I am aware of is my posture and slowness.
But there is so much more going on that others can't see that it is almost a joyous event to meet someone who does understand.