THE REAL PATCH ADAMS

     Patch Adams appeared at the Aiken Center in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, a number of years ago and I still remember him.  He talked to an audience of 1,964 nurses and the event was wildly popular.  When he appeared on stage, he didn't look anything like Robin Williams in the movie.  The fifty five year old Adams was tall and slim with a long gray ponytail and his hair was sprayed all different colors.  He wore clown pants, and a mismatching tie and loud shirt. Everyone in the audience was given a red clown nose and some sported balloon hats.     Adams began his talk by saying that he is first and foremost a political activist who doesn't like society's worshipping money and power.   He was born into a military family with a mostly absent father and a very loving mother.  When he was aged 16 his father died in war and they moved to Northern Virginia where racism was rampant.  He got knee deep in the civil rights movement and was crushed by man's inhumanity to man.  Adams was hospitalized twice for ulcers and tried to kill himself a number of times.  He ended up in a mental hospital and he says that he couldn't tell the difference between the staff and the patients because both were miserable.  His room mate was afraid of squirrels attacking him, so he couldn't get to the bathroom.  Adams says that in terms of suffering his room mate had a PhD. while he himself was only in kindergarten.  After helping his room mate Adams felt that he wanted to spend the rest of his life helping other people, that he could make a difference.  At age 18 he made two important decisions -- to serve humanity and never to have a bad day again.  He says that he has never had another bad day for the last 36 years.

A SCIENTIST FOR JOY

     Adams describes himself as a "scientist for joy".  He loves life everyday and has been a professional clown for the last 30 years.  Also, he is a trained performer.  He claims that everyone who cares is a doctor.  Adams criticizes the entertainment industry for exalting movie stars who are really nobodies.  He says that the real heroes are nurses and teachers and people who are helping other people.

     Adams founded the Gesundheit Institute in 1971 and has seen over 15,000 patients all who were treated for free.  Even if someone left a cherub under the pillow it was not accepted.  At the Institute there was a staff of 20 adults, two of whom were doctors and on average there were anywhere from 5 to 50 guests every night.  Adams has stopped seeing patients and spends between 260-280 days a year on the road trying to raise money for his 40 bed dream hospital which will be a cross between Walt Disney and Monty Python.  He has lectured to over 90 medical schools and does clown work all over the world.  In 1998 his movie hit the box offices and became popular, however he says that the movie is toned down compared to his real life.

     Adams emphasizes that if we don't change society and start loving and caring for each other that we will become extinct.  His attitude is that “If my house burned down today I have a better view of the lake."  He says, "The more I live a life of service the more comes to me.  I'm wealthy in love.  That a giver becomes rich is the best kept secret in the world." Adams says that friendship is his god and is the greatest power imaginable in life.   He wants to become friends with all his patients and he goes to their houses and spends at least four hours with each one.   Adams wants to know everything about them.  He will look at their books, and even search through their cupboards and drawers.

     Adams feels that most North Americans are lonely, bored, and deadened. He says that if you work on being miserable for a year it is harder work than being happy.  He has no patience with whiners and says,” Don’t be a whiner.  I'm telling whiners now, if you don't like life, why don't you go ahead and die?  Really, it’s a stupid way to spend your time.  Stop whining, stops you’re bitching, and go out there and tear at life with both hands."