JoanWink.com

Dear WinkWorld Readers,

I, too, have noticed that I have not been writing as much this year.  I decided to try to do better.  My goal is to keep WinkWorld going for about another year.  A special thank you to Annie Hlavka who helps me get this posted. As many of the long-time readers of this blog know, WinkWorld is loaded with materials for teaching and learning.  Help yourself.  Just use the SEARCH button over on the LEFT side-bar of my first page at joanwink.com

In what follows are specific answers to questions which I tend to receive:  How is your Parkinsons Disease (PD)? What are you reading? How is that little rural school?

Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

In answer to ‘How is your PD?’, I usually mutter something like, ‘fine.’  However, if you should ask me how my battle against PD is going, you will receive a much more enthusiastic answer along the lines of a loud, ‘GREAT.’  For sure, I have learned to live with PD, and I believe that I am learning to manage the disease.  For me, the answer to a much-more independent life is through daily and specific exercises, lots of cognitively-demanding activities, and my meds.

I joined an online group, Rogue-in-Motion, rogueinmotion.com, and I am very, very pleased with the daily choice of videos, live classes, community, and shared research. I use this site daily and cannot keep up with all that is shared.

Recently, the 7^th World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC), took place in Phoenix, May 24-26, 2026, and Rogue is still sharing highlights from that conference, https://wpc2026.org/ 

A blog is available here WPC Blog, https://wpc2026.org/

Previous WinkWorld on PD

https://www.joanwink.com/latest/slide-and-glide-or-loud-and-proud/

Books

One Thousand White Women: The Journal of May Doud by Jim Fergus

This book was published in 1998, and I have read it a couple of times since then.  However, I heard some friends discussing it recently, and picked it up again and couldn’t put it down.  The same is true for The Vengeance of Mothers, which Fergus wrote as a follow-up for readers like me, who wanted to know what happened with the women who survived when the White soldiers attacked the Natives on the prairies.  As this all took place in our area of the prairies, I find it compelling

My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutiérrez

This is a true story of a Mexican immigrant girl and her family, who leave their home in Mexico, so the kids can attend school in Tucson, Arizona.  Elizabeth, the author and central figure in the book, represent what has happened to many immigrant families.  When Elizabeth is ready to begin high school, her parents are forced to return to their home in Mexico.  Elizabeth and her brother soon become known as “unaccompanied homeless youth” as they make their way through Tuscon Schools. Elizabeth, not only graduates with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, she does it while also caring for her younger brother and guiding him through our educational system.  Elizabeth Camarillo Gutiérrez is a young author, but I predict that we will hear more from her in the future. Here is her TEDTalk, https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_camarillo_gutierrez_what_s_missing_from_the_american_immigrant_narrative

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

I read this book in 2013 right after it was published. I remember loving it and being amazed at how much I learned about the complexity of rowing with a team, and I also remember how much I learned about fascism.  One of my book clubs chose this book this year, so I decided to re-read it.  This time around I was even more impressed with the complexity of the teamwork needed to be successful at rowing with others.  In addition, I felt like we have all learned too much about fascism recently.  I couldn’t say that I loved the book after finishing it, but I do think that it is an important read.

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan

This novel falls into my favorite genre: books about books and women, it was the perfect escapism, when I needed it most.  The story takes place in a lovely little village on the W. coast of Ireland.  The ocean and the community is ever-present as three women, Robyn, Joy, and Fern, come to terms which all the joy, pain, and change which life offers, as they move books around the bookshop. I had never read anything from Faith Hogan before, but I am sure I will find another for my next flight.

Heartwood by Amity Gaige

Dawn, our daughter, sent this to me, after she read it on a long flight.  I had never heard of this book, nor the author.  It is the story of a woman, Valerie, who gets lost on the Appalachian Trail. She finds herself stumbling through dense trees and bushes, wet and cold woods of Maine.  I loved the frustrating search for her, led by State Game Warden, Bev.  However, about 2/3 the way through the book, a very dark subplot emerges. We learn there is a secret military camp in the same area, where military members go to learn how to withstand torture, pain, hunger, interrogation, and worse if they should ever be held captive in the hands of an enemy.  I almost stopped reading the book at this point, and Dawn said, “No, Mom, keep going, as you will not regret it.”  I took her advice, and am so happy that I did.  When I finished reading, I went back and re-read the last several chapters again, as I wanted to savor the story.

Change Sings by Amanda Gordon

I am a fan of Amanda Gordan’s poetry. Amanda Gordon was named the first ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. Every time I read her, I hear a youthful voice that does not realize that she is going to be another, great Maya Angelou. 

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

If I had to choose my favorite book from the last year, it would be the following: I had never heard of it previously. Now, I am in love with Allen Levi, author of Theo of Golden. As I understand it, Theo of Golden is Levi’s first published novel.

I knew very little about this book, and nothing about the author.  I just grabbed it to read, as I was attracted to the beautiful cover.  I liked the cream color, and wondered why there was a feather in the middle. 

I have to admit that I was slow getting into the book.  When I realized that we were going to focus on those 92 portraits hanging on the wall of a coffee shop, I immediately worried that I would have to keep track of 92 different characters in the book. Soon, I was captivated by Asher, Minnette, Shep, Mr. Ponder and finally Theo, and I stopped worrying about the other characters soon to arrive in the book. I have no idea how many of these portraits are in the book, but I can’t decide which character I loved most: maybe Ellen. 

The book seems to capture the depth and breadth of the diversity of humanity in the world. Can hardly wait until Levi’s next book is available.

Atall Kids

Here is a little collection of kids I love. 

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2022-2023

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-2026