Hi John: I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 12 years ago (35 yrs old) I am also a native Michigander, although I now live in and love Minnesota; I visited your web site about a year ago and loved your stories. I noticed your interest in Bluegrass banjo and resophonic guitar. Do you play?

Hey John, I finally found your wonderful jokes my son had found for Mother a few days ago. I'm not as computer literate as he is. Again, she laughed. I am so very grateful for your thoughtfulness in creating these.

John, this is soooooo good! Laughed and cried all at the same time!

We just wanted you to know I bumped into your site, said to my husband "what is humorous about Parkinson's?" I printed out all 39 pages and read them in bed last night. I haven't laughted that much in the six years since I was told I had it! Thank you. (02/01)

As I was laughing my way through the latest humor of Parkinsaw, MI, I paused and thought.....heh, john, I'd LOVE to have a ParkinSuit. Still chuckling

What I am writing about is your column…I love it! You do bring a light hearted side to this crazy disease. It has helped me because I can't stomach all the bad things about it. I need some positive, some laughing, some joking. It helps keep me in balance. Keep up the wonderful work. I have really enjoyed it.

John! I thought it was hilarious. I would hope that others could catch on to your humor and get a laugh out of their own movement frustrations.

John, that's great material. Please keep it coming! When we look at ourselves, we are quite funny and amusing people. The name of the game is adjusting, accepting, adapting and amusing others while we take a little time to laugh at ourselves too. Life is too short not to get the most out of it.

John, a compliment about humor from you made my day. You are the master humorist!

I just wanted to thank you for your weekly columns; keep up the good work!

John, I love your stories and your great sense of humor!

I have run off copies for my Non-Parkinson friends and it helps us with our relationships. Keep up the good work and keep the faith.

As I was laughing my way through the latest humor of Parkinsaw, MI, I paused and thought---heh, John, I'd love to have a Parkinsuit. Is there a way we can make this into reality?

Thank you John, it was very cleverly written, and very much like the style of humor my father created. I've forwarded this to siblings, nieces and nephews.

First, I really enjoy your stories. It's so good to see some humor. You are most creative and humorous. Keep those wonderful, funny and creative stories coming.

I continue to get great pleasure out of your Parkinsaw saga.

Hi John and thank you; I appreciate your humor, especially your cleverness. Humor provokes a positive healing response. Keep it up.

Don't stop writing John. You really should try to get your stories published in a magazine. Please continue, I enjoy your stories.

Thanks for the peek, it's wonderful stuff. It would make a good book when yu get a bunch of it. Look forward to the next edition.

Hi John, I've been reading your reports from Parkinsaw, MI. They are a nice relief from the serious stuff on the list. Your reports remind me of the radio program "Prairie Home Companion," and the mythical town of 'Lake Woebegon'. It's all in the imagination of the host, Garrison Keillor.

I just read your post to the Parkinson's Disease Information Exchange, and it was great.!!!!!I look forward to the next edition.

Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy the foibles of our fair friends in Parkinsaw. They're even better than Keillor's gang. Keep those wacky tales coming when you have time.

Dear John: Please keep up your efforts on Parkinsaw, MI. The whole concept of a bunch of Yoopers with Parkinson's Disease living in one town is an absolute stitch. Keep up the greta work my friend. We all need to look at ourselves and laugh.

John, you are creating lots of laughs. Keep it up!

You, John, have shown that a creative person with a good sense of humor, can even make jokes about a cruel disease, and make people laugh. Keep it up, don't stop, don't retire, and please accept this as a serious compliment.

Keep them coming, John, they are truly funny. It is indeed therapeutic to have such gentle fun made of the serious problems of Parkinson's Disease.

I enjoyed your latest Dateline: Parkinsaw, MI. Thanks for your humor. I needed that!

Thank you for sharing your energies to help all of us. I'm a grateful recipient - I love your creation "Parkinsaw, MI", and I especially love the following: "Don't give in to PD and forfeit the gift of your smile and sense of humor! Perfect! I'm starting a new support group and I'd like to give members your "A View from the Lighter Side of PD" reports as you post them. You've given me a big-time smile!

Loved it. The Dopaminos are great. Thank you. Thank you.

John, you missed your calling. Have you gotten then word out to the PD Foundation for them to mention it in their publications. If a non-Parkie like me can get a kick out of good, clean humor, a Parkie would roll on the floor.

Just visited for the first time and you can be sure I'll be back often. I think this is super! Please don't stop. Keep them coming. Us Parkies sure need this.

I haven't been on the list very long but already look forward to the Parkinsaw reports. Am soooo glad to know about your web site, I'm going there as soon as I finish this.

Hello! Just a little note to let you know that someone appreciates Parkinsaw, MI. Thanks for putting some humor in an otherwise not-so-humorous disease. We found Parkinsaw to be really cute. Keep it up! Thank you again for Parkinsaw, MI.

I enjoy reading your reports. Yes, I love your sense of humor. I have PD also. Thanks for my daily dose of giggles, chuckles and loud guffaws.

John: Great stuff as usual, but much congrats of working in Porky so nicely and the wooden leg joke fit in cleverly. My favorite part was about the Indians. Did Indian braves have names like "Quivering Hands" or "Trembling Body?"How did the medicine man handle the disease? "Here, stiff-like-stick- take these acorns and fish innards and see me in the morning." Hahhahahahaha.

Actually I tried to e-mail you before,but didn't have the right address. First I really enjoy your posts. They also have resulted in some clever responses. It's so good to see some humor. You are most creative and humorous Congrats on your success with Pennies for Parkinsons. What with petitions for PAN and the PA we'll find a cure yet!!! Keep those wonderful funny and creative posts coming.

John, I continue to get great pleasure out of your Parkinsaw, MI saga.

John Bjork, you are a funny, funny man. I can't tell you how good it feels to laugh out loud after a long,(I work in a hospital)hot, (it was almost 100 degrees in CT today and we're not used to this kind of weather so early in the season.)

Dear John Bjork, I just came back from a visit to your Parkinsaw, MI village website. I am a happier person for having had a chance to spend some time and get to know the regulars. It is not a bad place to escape to when the real world gets to be a bit much. I want to thank you for setting up a satellite to collect money for PRO-Seed Grants -- it is a real neighborly thing to do. I urge all you "grounded" people to take a leap into the fantasy land that John has created and enjoy yourselves. Go to: http://www.mikeauldridge.com/parknsaw.htm#Section10 and, don't leave without taking part in the "A Thousand Pennies for Parkinsons" offer that John is providing. Wish you the best,

John-----Just had to tell you how much I'm enjoying your "news from Lake Parkinsaw"-I usually skip the humor posts but never miss yours. Would love to have seen Carl and his pig perform,and think that Harvey is on the road to a cure! Keep up the good work!

John, You have one great site! Does Parkinsaw have a Mail Order Neurological teaching Hospital ? I think I have sponsorship from Black and Decker for the "Frontal Labomity Self Taught, FB 101" course (April 1st entry for the web).

Hello! Just a little note to let you know that someone appreciates Parkinsaw! I shared this with my mother, 47 yo, who has been diagnosed w/early onset PD. Thanks so much for putting some humour into an otherwise not-so-humorous disease! She's got a great attitude about this whole thing thus far, and being former Pasty-eating vacationers, we found Parkinsaw really cute! Keep it coming!

i have ran copiesfor my non-parky friends and it helps them and me and our rrelationships keep up the good work and most of all -------- keep the faith

I enjoyed reading your page! Yes, I loved your sense of humor! I have PD, also. Thank you for my daily dose of giggles, chuckles and loud guffaws. But you do bring a light hearted side to this crazy disease. It has helped me because I can't stomach all the bad and statistical about it. I need positive, some aughing, some joking, it helps me keep in balance. Keep up the wonderful work. I have really enjoyed it.

John, this is brilliant! I so enjoyed this weeks report.

I haven't been on the list very long but already I look forward to the Parkinsaw reports. Hubby and I really enjoy them and have been known to forward some to his daughter in Dallas. Am So-o-o-o-o glad to know about the website.I'm on my way there now just as soon as I send this. Thank you.

Just visited for first time and you can I will be back often. I think this is super! Please don't stop, keep 'em coming..us Parkies sure need this. Best regards..

John, I love your stories and your great sense of humor. Everyone, John's Parkinsaw story line is a weekly. The intro and back issues are on the web at: http://www.mikeauldridge.com/parknsaw.htm "HOiNK IF YOU LOVE PIGS".

But, people with great senses of humor like yourself make my day; we both need a Levolager --it goes straight to your brain, you know--- Hmm... I wonder what the bottle would look like? clear glass, to show how wonderfully clear and drinkable this beer is 0.5 litres (that'd be a pint for you??), to give room for the big oval(?) label with a) a witty and beauuutiful picture of the brewer himself ? b) a description of the effects - "it goes straight to your brain" "helps loosen up even the stiffest (party)!" (Works in Swedish, but I don't know if a party or person can be "stiff" in English?

John, That's great material! Keep it coming. When we really look at ourselves, we are quite funny and amusing people. The name of the game is adjusting, accepting, adapting and amusing others while we take a little time to laugh at ourselves too. Life is too short not to get the most out of it. Thank you,

John: No need for apologies. By the way...I thought your article was very funny. I was laughing out loud at my computer. My wife wanted to know what was going on, so I had to explain a few things (Gamma Knife, etc...). Humor is good for letting us look at things differently or allows us to talk about things we would rather avoid. Keep up the good work. If anything I say inspires you, use it, I've still got a thick hide. You must be a kind person to make the effort to write this note.

As I was laughing my way through the latest humor of Parkinsaw, MI, I paused and thought.....heh, john, I'd LOVE to have a ParkinSuit. What i want to know, is there a inventor and marketer on the list who can make this dream a reality? I waste alot of time doing laundry, time I could use doing FUN things if I had a ParkinSuit(the female version, please) Still chuckling,

John, do you have any idea when the Mess-B-Gone Bibs and ParkinSuit may be available? They'd sure be traffic stoppers. Are you taking applications for distributors or sales people?

John - I just wanted to thank you for your weekly columns. The UP connection is just great. I thought that the mosquito was the state bird, not the fly. Keep up the good work.

Dear John-in-Parkinsaw--- Your "virtual canisters" seem like a great idea---but I hope you don't find that folks think they can contribute *virtual pennies* ! Congratulations too on the selection of your site for having "5star humor". Maybe the folks can have a big celebration bonfire and pig roast (ooops) on the lake, if the ice hasn't melted yet! Too bad, though, that you can't put out canisters in the tourist facilities right there in Parkinsaw---would the local legal beagles make an exception, considering the nature of the "cause"?

John, Keep up the good work. Laughter is the best med!! Our thousand pennies will be in the mail tomorrow.

Dear John, Bravo! Great as usual but much congrats on working in Porky so nicely and politely and the wooden leg joke fit in nicely. My favorite part tho was the Indians! What a hoot. Did Indian braves have names like "Quivering Hands" or "Trembling Body"? How did the medicine men handle the disease? "Here, 'Stiff-Like-Stick', take these acorns and fish innards and see me in the morning." Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi John and Thank you. yes, I appreciate the humor. I personally especially appreciate this kind of cleverness: Northern Lights Microbrewery over a delicious glass of Levolager, while listening to some oldies but goodies by the Dopaminos, our best-known local band. Just remember, up this way we may be slow but we're not too sure.

I am starting to feel part of the group now, especially that I can make a contribution or two of my own that will help people. Instead of only asking questions. But I know thats what one does in the beginning. Humor is one of the most important modalities for healing. I found Norman Cousens book to be very inspiring when it first came out. It works. Humor provokes a physical healing response. And, isn't it great to have a healing method that also feels good? Keep it up!