A Broken Cup:
Helped to Be Made 'Almost' Whole
by Charlotte Tripet

This cup is one of three made by my husband, Tom, while he was living with, and trying to accept and understand the neuro degenerative disease of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy - PSP.

The knowledge of something wrong started in about 1992. It was a few years before he became involved with "Club Create," a day program for folks with Parkinson's and related diseases. It was at this place operated by the Struthers Parkinson's Center that he found new meaning for his life. At Club Create they had a variety of therapists -- physical, musical, creative, occupational, horticultural, speech and a chaplain to help tie it all together. The program at Club Create involved activities with all the therapists throughout the week.

It was with the occupational and creative therapists who helped him create and make a variety of items he gave as gifts to his family. He painted some greenware items and they were fired such as cups, a mantle clock, beads and Tom even tried painting some pictures. It was through these activities and with the therapists he became able to accept the disease that had invaded his life and helped him give purpose and meaning through the final years of his life. A broken cup almost made whole again.

A cup was made for each of his three children. Tom had been the Audio Visual and Media Director for Robbinsdale Area Schools for 32 years until his retirement in 1957. Tom died in 1998.