Skip Granger, 2025
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:
Incidentally, we were asked to suggest music for our concert, and I suggested The Sound of Music. Not only did we sing more than one of my favorites, but the other groups in the valley sang them as well. It’s a fun organization with various branches around the Phoenix area. Here is Sunjo Lee directing another of my The Sound of Music favorites: Tremble Clefs Performance, May 2025
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.
2025 marks a special year for Tremble Clefs because it is our 30th year! All four of the TC groups will be hosting a celebration concert on Saturday November 15th , 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Center at 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
Very cool, Skip! You are a fighter and an inspiration! Keep on singing 🎶!!!
I have had Parkinson’s for ten years. I am now in stage 4. Provided the condition is not the fast-moving kind, PD is relatively straightforward to live with. A few helpful tips.
1. No pity parties (woe is me)
2. Forget about things you no longer can do physically, other than remembering the good times and how fortunate you were.
3. Focus on preserving and improving cognitive functions.
4. Exercise.
5. Eat a good diet and get your weight down to what it should or what you want it to be. The easiest way to lose weight is to reduce daily caloric intake by 500: no sugar and empty calories in beer, wine, and booze.
6. Make fun of yourself at every opportunity. The best source of jokes, good humor, and a ridiculous person is what you see in the mirror every day
7. Pay attention to your personal safety. Use a cane or walker if necessary, and your handicapped placard
8. Learn how to fall without getting hurt. Actually, learn how to make falling an art form.
9. Remember and follow the 11th commandment: Thou shalt not sweat things.
10. As you lose your ability to type, switch over to speech-to-text features in the OS of your computer. If you are still using a PC, switch to a Mac immediately.
12. The only reliable med is Levodopa. Crank up as needed 4 x a day.
13. Call me any time before 1700 Eastern.
Be safe and sane. The second one gets harder by the day. Ignore the crazies who bug you. Better. Walk away or hang up the phone.
“Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience”. — Mark Twain