FLUFF THE CLOWN, spreading the magic around

FLUFFEE

our very own warrior here

"ain't she just a beaut"?

Now as for the little one she is entertaining,

I'm not so sure what has captured the eye, but looks to me like they are not feelin the love there!!!

But our very own

Fluff out there in Michigan

is sure putting the love on that little one

and

how very beautiful our

FLUFFEE

is indeed!

Fluff out there in Michigan is one busy clown;

working in Trauma at the Detroit Medical Center * a huge HUGE healhcare system*, volunteering at the local shelter for 4 leggeds, trying to find homes, giving out love, and then donning the clown suit to provide giggles and grins for so many!

I tip my hat to ya there Fluff

you are "da bomb"!

Oh the joys of clowning for so many!

And clowns do remind me so much

of

Patch Adams

and how I love Patch!

THE REAL DEAL and the real Patch!

Yes

he is "real as real can be"

and doing great doctoring

when he is not speaking

and

he sure is walkin the walk

and talks the true talk of

mind/body/spirit/laugh

connection!

Remember that movie?

Remember that man?

What a doc and a healer he is.

Now clowning around the world,

spreading hope, compassion, kindness

and taking many a healer along the journey with him.

I remember Patch from living in

Arlington VA

and

oh what a man!

His real name

Hunter Doherty; Patch was born in Washington DC, and received his MD from Virginia Commonwealth University!

His life inspired the movie

"Patch Adams" played by Robin Williams,

and while it only portrayed a bit of Patch's life, it seems that Patch was not impressed by the fact that Robin did not donate a percentage of the film to his institute afterwards!

Since Robin made over 20 million bucks

from the film!

Patch now gets volunteers to go with him around the country each year

in clown attire

while attending to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs while offering compassionate care.

Compassion at its finest.

A red nose, a red heart that beats strong, the healing powers of care..

It is rather amazing that Patch entered medical school without an undergraduate degree!

He stands for justice, for right way relations, for those who are in need of compassion and is a strong advocate.

He is a kind and very very funny man.

Patch Adams formulated the Gesundheit (meaing good health) vision in the late 1960s, and since then the Gesundheit! Institute has been an important voice in dialogues around health care delivery. Gesundheit's international service began in 1984 when Patch led a clown trip to the Soviet Union as an act of "nasal diplomacy." The original focus was volunteer bedside clowning in hospitals, and soon widened to include orphanages, schools, psychiatric facilities, nursing homes, and special needs facilities.

He is busy with a home style caring place for folks in West Virginia!

"In the last 28 years, I´ve created 50 presentations and performed them in 70 countries. I´ve spoken at 90 medical schools in the US and many more around the world. Over the course of the last two decades I´ve been on the road for 200-300 days of the year.

In 1985, I took a group of people on a clown trip to what was then the Soviet Union. Equipped with colorful clothing and compassion we visited hospitals, orphanages, homes for the elderly as well as just clowning on the street. Since then, these trips have been an integral part of Gesundheit´s global outreach. Apart from returning to Russia every year there have been clown trips to all corners of the world, including visits to war zones, refugee camps and natural disaster sites. We´ve also built clinics and a school at some of the places we´ve visited. I go on six or seven of these trips yearly. They are the sweetest healing work I get to do while I wait for the hospital." Patch Adams

A man of gentle spirit,

a warrior by nature ...

Whether or not the movie covered all of his life, or whether or not sweet Robin Williams donated a percentage to the institute,

Robin Williams supports St Judes Hospital and the work being done there and Patch gave him props for that.

One thing is certain.

The movie introduced the world to Patch Adams!

And that is a very good thing.

He is brilliant in his healing ways,

and knows that care of the body means nothing without care of the spirit and soul.

The healing that comes with laughter, with respite from pain

in joy and laughter and wonder

is remarkable.

He recognized long before folks linked the body/mind/spirit connection

that we need to dig deeper in the well of compassion and understanding

to see people not labels or disease models

in order to provide holistic care.

And he colors in bright ink

and believes in color

and individuality.

Patch takes folks away from their struggle, away from their pain, while addressing life and its mysteries and a respite for awhile.
Life for Patch has been a tapestry woven through some tough times

and much resistence from many.

He dances to a beat of a different drum

and the drum continues to beat

and many of us are so very grateful

for his dance.

AFTER all who couldnt love a man like Patch who has children named

"Zig and Zag"?
Patch hand writes letters to folks; can you even imagine in this day of modern technology, a man that busy who takes the time to answer letters and does it by hand?
Yep that's him alright.
I remember him and his "swag" back in Arlington... a little community known as Westover, and his walk. Once you see Patch Adams and his "stroll" it etches in the mind just like the man himself!

...

So today,

let's here it for

Patch Adams

the man who brought clowns to medicine

and in a great way

to address the laughter release of endorphins

and the holistic model of medicine.

Thank you Patch for all you are.

"We can never promise cure but we can always promise care." Now that is a doc, a social worker, a nurse, an administrator,
a practitioner, a healer.

Yes I do appreciate that some folks absolutely do NOT like clowns!
I remember that, and I do know that to be true. For them, I'm sure that Patch also knows that and takes off the "red nose" and just is as witty as the day is long without all the clowning accessories.
As does the Fluff and all those that do their clowning thing.
Perception is a great thing to have when in the healing helping fields.
And you either love clowns or you really don't it seems.
BUT
how in the world could you not love
Patch and FLuff ?
I wish you all you dare to dream
as you work the dream!
Did ya see that moon last night?

It sure was full as it peeked through the trees!

Walk in Beauty,

DRSES

www.sherryeshowalter.com