Dark, silly, slapstick … any and all types of humour can help people with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones face the daily challenges and indignities of this neurodegenerative disorder.
Humour has helped, and continues to help, Patrick Demoucelle to stay positive over the last 20 years. Think: Monty Python’s song ‘’Always look on the bright side of life, dada, dada, dada, dada”
Below is Patrick’s Parkinson’s disease version of Monty Python’s famous sketch ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’. He’s called it: “Monty Parkinson’s’.
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It’s time to stop Parkinson’s Disease. What has it done to us?
It has rendered our lives miserable.
And not only our lives, but also our fathers’. And our fathers’ fathers’.
And our fathers’ fathers’ fathers’;
And our fathers’ fathers’ fathers’ fathers’, and our…
Well it’s ok we already made that point.
And what has Parkinson’s ever given us in return?
(long silence)
Priority?
What?
Priority.
We don’t need to queue anymore. We go straight to the front of the line.
Alright. I’ll grant you. But, apart from priority, what has Parkinson’s ever done for us?
Free upgrades on high-speed trains.
Free public transport in cities.
Dedicated parking places, just for us!
… and they’re free!
… and well located!
Cheap physiotherapy.
More innovation and better research.
Fundraising.
Being part of a community.
…. and great care from loved ones!
Well, the great care from loved ones goes without saying!
New friends.
Inspiring stories.
Enhanced creativity.
Wisdom.
Alright. But apart from priority access, free upgrades, free public transport, free parking, cheap physiotherapy, innovation, research, fundraising, new friends, a sense of belonging, creativity, wisdom, … and bloody hell, … what has Parkinson’s ever done for us?
(short silence)
Humour?
Oh stop taking yourself so seriously!
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Inspired by Monty Python’s famous sketch: ’What have the Roman’s ever done for us?”.