puppetmaker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
puppetmaker) wrote2007-12-13 10:51 am
puppetmaker) wrote2007-12-13 10:51 am
The Discworld still Spins
The news that Terry Prachett has a kind of a very rare form of early onset Alzheimer's has lit up the Internet.
Terry's Message on the Discworld Board
The number of fans of his work is amazing and the number that have come out of the woodwork is astounding. And no one is slowing down to think but the feathers are flying.
Terry is rather brave to put this out there for all to know. I liken it to when Michael J. Fox told the world that he had Parkinson's. Now in both cases I have a feeling that they decided to be up front before someone in the media decided to "out" them and they would rather have this out on their own terms.
I know Alzheimer's is a terrible degenerative disease. Personally I have had friends with parents and grandparents who have been affected. I don't think anyone in my family has had it or if they did I don't know about it.
But Terry has time before his mind goes and he is still working on the various books he has under contract and, knowing writers as well as I do, probably a couple more churning in his brain pan. We're talking 20 years not next week. And that is the point that a lot of people seem to be missing. It is long term not something that is going to make him "go away" within the next year. He still plans to meet his obligations for the next couple of years. Because they caught it so early, there is more that they can do for him and he can do for himself.
However this news got me to thinking. This is probably the worse thing that can happen to a writer. If something happens with your hands there are other ways of getting your ideas out there but to lose your mind slowly. That must be torture. And you have the knowledge that your mind is slipping while it goes.
I have always been scared about losing the use of my hands. A lot of what I do creatively depend on the fine motor skills I have developed over the years. But it also depends on my brain since I have to work out in my head a lot of what I create. I know what things I have a predisposition in terms of my family medical history and I have told my doctor what they are. I know there is a good chance that I might lose my fine motor skills because arthritis does run in my family. But until then I plan to continue to make puppets and dolls and things. And keep an eye on medical science to see what is on the horizon that might help me in the future.
As is, probably, Terry and his family. Medical science has created cures for many things that use to kill us. Now other things that are showing up because we are living longer are being worked on. Once we solve those I bet another set of things we never thought about will crop up. We were never meant to be immortal (Highlander aside) but we can have a good life for what we do have on this planet. Which is what Terry is planning to do. Terry is one of the most optimistic people I have met with a wicked sense of fun and a love of bad puns. He has the right attitude to make it and I think he will with his sense of humor intact.
I am grateful for the couple of times our paths have crossed especially the first one when I hadn't a clue who he was except he was working on a book with my friend Neil which he found funny.
Terry's Message on the Discworld Board
The number of fans of his work is amazing and the number that have come out of the woodwork is astounding. And no one is slowing down to think but the feathers are flying.
Terry is rather brave to put this out there for all to know. I liken it to when Michael J. Fox told the world that he had Parkinson's. Now in both cases I have a feeling that they decided to be up front before someone in the media decided to "out" them and they would rather have this out on their own terms.
I know Alzheimer's is a terrible degenerative disease. Personally I have had friends with parents and grandparents who have been affected. I don't think anyone in my family has had it or if they did I don't know about it.
But Terry has time before his mind goes and he is still working on the various books he has under contract and, knowing writers as well as I do, probably a couple more churning in his brain pan. We're talking 20 years not next week. And that is the point that a lot of people seem to be missing. It is long term not something that is going to make him "go away" within the next year. He still plans to meet his obligations for the next couple of years. Because they caught it so early, there is more that they can do for him and he can do for himself.
However this news got me to thinking. This is probably the worse thing that can happen to a writer. If something happens with your hands there are other ways of getting your ideas out there but to lose your mind slowly. That must be torture. And you have the knowledge that your mind is slipping while it goes.
I have always been scared about losing the use of my hands. A lot of what I do creatively depend on the fine motor skills I have developed over the years. But it also depends on my brain since I have to work out in my head a lot of what I create. I know what things I have a predisposition in terms of my family medical history and I have told my doctor what they are. I know there is a good chance that I might lose my fine motor skills because arthritis does run in my family. But until then I plan to continue to make puppets and dolls and things. And keep an eye on medical science to see what is on the horizon that might help me in the future.
As is, probably, Terry and his family. Medical science has created cures for many things that use to kill us. Now other things that are showing up because we are living longer are being worked on. Once we solve those I bet another set of things we never thought about will crop up. We were never meant to be immortal (Highlander aside) but we can have a good life for what we do have on this planet. Which is what Terry is planning to do. Terry is one of the most optimistic people I have met with a wicked sense of fun and a love of bad puns. He has the right attitude to make it and I think he will with his sense of humor intact.
I am grateful for the couple of times our paths have crossed especially the first one when I hadn't a clue who he was except he was working on a book with my friend Neil which he found funny.
no subject
Though it's true that he has a much better chance having been diagnosed early and NOW than if it had been in a later stage and years ago. Unlike my grandma, who went from being a racist, whiny, generally crazy old bat to a senile, angry, bitter, Alzheimer's AND lewybodies (we think) afflicted crazy old bat. Nothing can cure her; she's way too far along the scale. And she's yet (just turned 83) to become a docile sweet little granny.
As for Terry, I love Discworld books. Got into them on the late side, I'm sure, but still a huge fan. I sat and read the whole of Making Money in B&N because I didn't want to buy a hardcover. I have bought several paperbacks though. :)
I'd love to meet him... I know there are conventions and things in NYC sometimes, so I guess I'll have to look for those.
no subject