Patch's Blog June 2010

These last two months have been thrilling. First two days in Italy in April, at the university of Rome, addressing students with a new presentation about teaching caring in schools, and the next day to the city of L’Aquila, site of the recent earthquake. Made the same address in a packed tent of students who had lost classrooms. I hear a longing to work in meaning.

In May I went to 3 cities in Spain to be with a roomful of local doctors — friendly and interested in the practice I was describing. All health care in Spain is free — doctors hunger for more time with patients — doctors all over the world express this — and patients also hunger for more time. I was told the average visit with a doctor is 5 minutes. I felt such a need for a fun-loving practice.In Madrid I did my first ad, for San Miguel Alcohol-Free Beer, a company and product I could recommend with a good conscience. The crew who did it were lots of fun and thoughtful. Between Seville and Madrid, I had three days free, so I went back to the Tamara community in Portugal. What an exciting example of living ideas for a healthier planet, as an eco-village! They dare to explore human relationships with comfort. I cherish the time with their school and children. I’m so interested in how to teach love, care, passion, hope, wheee!!!, to children. Tamara is magic for their children. I was allowed to try our my brand new workshop on hope to their international adult school for social change. I feel so connected to them.

Home for a moment, then off to Mexico for an educational clown trip, and on to Olympia, Washington to The Evergreen State College where the School For Designing a Society was in residence. There for a 4 day intensive on health care system design. Susan Parenti organized a dazzling meeting of minds and ideas and sprinkled it with many pertinent performances created in their classes in Evergreen. While there, Melanie Meltzer organized a 65th birthday party fundraiser for Gesundheit in Seattle. With music by Country Joe McDonald, and Shana Morrison. It was Rock N Roll – with great jitterbugging. I may have danced every dance. So many friends. Thank you!

And June I flew on the magic carpet to Mayo Medical School to meet with students. Then Yale University for our beloved architect Dave Seller’s 50th class reunion presentation. The band played 50s Rock N Roll – how lucky can I be! Dave and I presented and had lots of mingling time. Many connections. Had a long talk with John Negroponte. Wish I had more time. I think some of his classmates will help us.

Then Japan for 6 days and 3 locations with precious friends Mariko, Yoshi, Masumo, and Maki! – so many magical events – clowning, lecturing and debut of the new workshop on hope. I am delighted to be exploring collectively what hope is.

To Russia – Maria’s Children with mama Maria, llya and so many dear friends. For the first time in Russia, I did both workshops for joy and love. Over 2 days. It was a privilege to spend a free day with Maria and clan. On to Damanhur (An Italian Eco-Village near Turing) for 2 days of touring and speaking – with also the Joy Workshop. Another grand example of doing something to help point direction toward a healthy world of people and nature. 800 people – check it out. Interconnecting tree houses, studying plant musical compilations. I sat high on a platform where a Moog Synthesiser was attached to a leaf and a root of a chestnut tree and music was made. So many things to say – I must say – everyone I met was friendly and interested in our work. The enthusiasm in the joy workshop was palpable. Then back to Spain for Mallorca and Santiago again with a vibrant room of doctors. The host kindly gave my book Gesundheit to each.

A moment home and back to Mexico for Centro Fox, an NGO created by former president Vicente Fox, to help teach leadership to high school kids in poor areas. It was really fun! The conference was for Mexican Hospital Clowns. I spent the afternoon over lunch with his wife Martha and friends and clowns. Lots of foolishness led to Martha and many to be in my large underwear. Lots of mirth. I also had a walk with Fox to hear his dreams for this school of leadership. He listened to our dreams. I mentioned a Cuban style Medical School and Eco Hospitals to serve the poor and everybody.

After ½ day at home, I left for San Francisco where Lars picked me up for a grand son-dad moment to Camp Winnarainbow for the 16th year. Non-stop stories. Camp is my age group. Be nuts, give hugs – this is my job. A special delight came when, after many years of doing a kind version of “What is your Love Strategy?” This year during the open mic portion, every kid gave a love strategy story and named it. I’m writing this now in the Super Burrito restaurant in downtown Willits near Camp Winnarainbow, on a day off.

Sitting here. Today. For 2 months I have known we will begin to get the next building under roof this summer. I like saying it. It’s fun to say and know it is so. If you like our project – please be part of that. Never have we had so many working for it. Please spread the word on your network. A hospital model, free for all people, at 10 percent of the cost, as a model Eco-Village.

Books recommended to Medical Students and Professionals to read are:
Arthur Kleinman, The Illness Narratives
Eric Cassell MD, The Nature of Suffering
Bowen White MD, Why Normal Isn’t Healthy
Carl Hammerschlag MD, The Dancing Healers

Thank you for being interested. It is a really good time to work for Peace and Justice and Care for All People!!
Wheee!!