Boys of Summer book Entry #56

INTERVIEWING JEFF SHINHOLT & SONS

Our Baltimore friend/contact (who has Parkinson's Disease)

Bob:
How has Parkinson’s Disease affected you as a father?

JS: It’s caused me to think a little bit more about the long term effects of Parkinson’s. But right now I’m just living day to day...you don’t just sit here and count the days as they go by you make every day count. 

Bob:
Can you tell me about the best play you ever made in little league?

JS:
Best play I ever made in little league was when I was 12 years old. I played third base. There was a left handed hitter and the last time he was up I know he came my way. So I shied over toward the line a little bit and he lined one right down the line. And I dove for it, got airborne, snagged the ball. It was the last out of the game and my teammates came out and put me on my shoulders. That was probably the best experience I can remember growing up with little league.

Bob:
What was your feeling when you heard about your dad having Parkinson’s Disease?

Michael Shinholt(MS):
Well, at that point, I didn’t really know what it was so, I thought, what’s this going to be like? Is anything really going to change?  Now with this whole running thing it’s really part of his life now.

Bob:
Have things changed for you in your perception of your dad?

MS:
I don’t really think of him that much different because it doesn’t seem to affect him that much. He ‘s just...he’s always been the same dad to me.

Bob: (TO YS)
What did you think when you heard about your dad having Parkinson’s?

YOUNGER SON:
I didn’t know what it was either so I didn’t really care.

Bob:
Did it scare you?

YS:
Not really.

Bob:
You’ve seen your dad has had some changes since then.

YS:
Yeah.

Bob:
How does that make you feel?

YS:
It doesn’t make me feel bad like...it doesn’t make me feel any different.

Bob:
You still love your dad the same?

YS:
Yeah.

Bob: Why is baseball important for fathers and sons?

JS:
We’ve built memories together. We’ve gone to baseball games for birthday parties and things like that where 10 years down from now we’ll be able to look back, look at the pictures and say, remember that? You were 10 years old and we brought your buddies out to the ball game and we almost caught a couple of foul balls. I remember one time during the All-Star practice, my son and I came out and we caught a foul ball. We had to wrestle for it with a couple of other guys but we came up with it and it was our ball. That was a fun thing to do and a memory I’ll always have.

Bob: (to MS):
Do you remember that one?

MS:
No.

JS:
(laughs) ‘Cause I got the ball.

Park Number Seven (of 30) at Camden Yards

Tampa Bay 3, Baltimore 1 Park #7
WP: M. Hendrickson (6-6)   LP: R. Lopez (6-5)

A’s were SLAMMED by Boston, 11-0 -- ewwwwwww...

Boys of Summer Book - Entry #54

July 6, 2004 - Bob

Baltimore, MD

We have a small crowd of supporters joining us for the Baltimore game tonight, but a very enthusiastic one. Camden has been a long-reputed favorite of many, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it. 

I'm also looking forward to being in a part of the country where we'll have less driving for a bit (whew!). We've been logging some serious miles, but for the next few days ('til the 10th) we'll be in the two hours and under range. NICE. 

We had a great time with Naiden and Barb last night. They came down to Atlanta for the game, then we all drove back and had a little cookout at their place. Talk about your gracious hosts! Barb actually folded our laundry for us-- WHOA! And she says she doesn't dig domestics... 

My interview with Naiden went extremely well -- despite (or maybe because of) that pimpish cigar he demanded be in the shot ("If I'm going to be a star, I have to look the part", he said). Does anyone smell cutting room floor? 

I've been to D.C. one other time in my life -- when I was about 8, I think. I do have some memories of that trip, but obviously a few things have changed since then. It has been fun to talk to dad about his military experience and contrast it with how he sees the world now. He served in the late 60’s as part of the ROTC program out of college. He was stationed in Fort Collins, Colorado when my sister was born. His entire battalion was sent to Viet Nam. My dad, as a tank commander, would have been right on the front line. For whatever reason, he didn’t have to go. 

We've had lots of long discussions about life and how (and why) things are done. 

In the A's bag, the boys seem to be hitting their stride again. They are a 2nd half team and here's to hoping Chavez and Hudson get healthy and Dotel becomes the hammer should be in the pen. 

July 6, 2004 - DAD

Baltimore, MD

I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and toss and turn until 7:15. I then get up and take a shower and do yoga with Bob. We pack up and are on the way to Washington D.C. by 10 a.m. I have only been to Washington once before in 1978 so there have been a "few" changes.

I notice the level of security – that is the biggest difference.  First there is a guard with a dog trained to find explosives. I made a wrong turn and ended up at the entrance to the Pentagon parking lot. Immediately there were two police cars with their drivers watching us closely. From time to time a Black Hawk helicopter would fly over. We spent three hours touring the various memorials and art exhibits and the perimeter of the White House. 

Then it was off to Baltimore and Camden Yards. We met with a group of 13 from the local National Parkinson Foundation at Pickles – a sports bar across the street from Camden Yard. We meet Jeff Shinholt and his family. Jeff is a Parkinsonian who is training to run a marathon in October. I also spend time with Becky Dunlop, an R.N. in Neuology at Johns Hopkins.  

The ballpark was great and the game was entertaining but the support from the people is what remains and resonates with me.  The local Parkinson Chapter donated a night’s lodging at the airport Marriott so we sleep in comfort.