Patch's Diary
September 15, 2005
Responding to Hurricane Katrina
"Life doesn't cease to be funny when people die or cease to be serious when people laugh."
— George Bernard Shaw
Dear friends of humanity,
Synchronicity answered clown urges last week when my regular work brought me to Dallas and Phoenix. Ever since Katrina came I wanted to go and spread love and fun for the displaced and the volunteers. On Friday I went to the Convention Center in Dallas where 2,000 people have been living. I found workers and those cared for quick to laugh and love. I recommend to all the workers and, whichever displaced people can, to lighten up, sing out and take constant snuggle moments. There is no healing in seriousness. Whistle while you work. Feel gratitude for small things.
Saturday I went to the Phoenix Coliseum with dear friends Dr. Carl and Elaine Hammerschlag, two of their daughters and four grandchildren. There were 900 people there. Over the 3 1/2 hours we were there, we found the authorities go from hesitating about our entry and corralling us with the kids; to observing the effects on adult refugees and staff and finally giving us carte blanche. One sweet noticing was the prisoners who were brought to help care for the facility and their guards went from very uptight to mutual playfulness. A highlight was doing a New Orleans style march around to "When the Saints Go Marching In."
I wish poor people were as cared for when there is no acute disaster.
In justice, peace, and care,
Patch
