Skip Granger – PD and Me and Tremble Clefs Make Three

In September of 2024, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which is incurable. You cannot imagine the stress  and emotion involved unless it happens to you. After some weeks of dire depression, I decided that if I could not cure it, I certainly could do everything possible to slow its effects. Therefore, I began to research PD (Parkinson’s Disease)  and found many ways to make the affliction less severe including boxing, and, oddly enough, singing!

 

PD seems to be the new plague for seniors. So many of us have contracted it. I was amazed how many of my elder friends are starting to learn that it has become part of their lives. It not only slows you down, but it also causes shaking that intrudes into everything from writing to tying your shoes. It makes you vulnerable to falling. Thus, my physical therapy has changed dramatically. It also makes your voice softer – to the extent that it can become difficult to be heard and understood. Therefore, my speech therapy has been altered.

 

After further research, I learned that singing can help to increase the volume of your voice. So I decided to check into joining a choral group. I used to sing, but now I would be doing so to improve my life. My daughter, Amanda, is a singer, which aided in her achievements in the Miss Marin and Miss San Francisco pageants. We enjoyed watching her perform at several venues, and when she married, it was to a fellow singer, who makes his career from music.

 

What I did not know was that my decision  to sing would bring me to a special group called the ”Tremble Clefs,” a group made up exclusively of people afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease. This group has taught me so much  more than just music. We discuss the effects of PD and enjoy events outside of our rehearsals and concerts. We had a lovely dinner, ”Evening in Paris,” at our director’s home. I brought a magnum of our Starry Night wine and was told that it was one of the best wines that many of the group had ever tasted, which also aided my ego somewhat!

 

Speaking of swallowing [wine], my private banker’s father suffered from PD, and I asked her how  he was doing with it.  Michelle said that her father was a New Yorker and did everything fast. He did not follow the  rules! One evening while dining in a restaurant in New York City, he choked on a piece of steak and fell over dead. I am glad that I wasn’t dining there that evening to celebrate a special event!

 

Fearing such an unfortunate ending made me a true believer. I immediately purchased an anti-choking device which I keep by our dining table. I also began eating softer foods. However, my speech therapist told me that it is just the opposite  of what one might think. Gianna said that if you don’t exercise your throat muscles with normal foods, you will not be able to enjoy them for the rest of your life.

 

After many weeks of rehearsal, our first concert featured me! After singing with intent, I spoke about my involvement with the group. My close friend, Tom Tischer, also helped out by offering to play the drum. See my speech about PD and singing here:

 

It concerns me that I am constantly hearing of celebrities who passed away who suffered from PD [think Ozzie Osbourne, of late]. In conclusion, I have determined that since you cannot cure PD, you must do what you can to keep it at bay. One of my favorite singers in my chorus has suffered from Parkinson’s for over 25 years, and still has a smile [and a song] in her heart!

 

Here is photo of our Tremble Clefs group rehearsing.

 

RIP, Ozzie.  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ozzy-osbourne-funeral-procession-uk-black-sabbath/