November 2004
I have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum, Aspergers Syndrome. My first time clowning was after I got my first book by Patch Adams. I work at a Social Workplace for Autistic people. They have a store operated by Autistic people. Despite complaints I was given by my Supervisors, I received positive reactions from the people who passed by the store.
Some folks walked a minimum of 5 times past the store just to see me. But this made my supervisors nervous. Angrily, they told me that this was a respectable store and not a Nuthouse. An elderly man came to see the store. But when I wanted to open the door to let him enter, my supervisor threw her weight against the door crushing the old man painfully between the door and the doorframe. When she set into a panic, she ran into the back. The person who was supposed to be my supervisor that day was hiding the whole time. This did not bother me.
I gave the old man a chair and asked him if he was alright. We chatted about the store. He was angry for the way my supervisors reacted. He said the etalage — the front display window — 'sucked' because it did not show what we were selling. The store lacked in charisma. But he was happy to see someone kind working in the store. That he found a positive aspect of the store. I listened to the man’s story. I agreed with much of he said. Everything evolves around greed in this stupid world. I only agreed to work at the store on my own terms. I would work in it the Patch Adams way. This is what I took as input from Patch and made my own style.
I gave the old man one of the chocolates we sold in the store (Ssst dont tell my boss ;-) ). The old man found it so yummie that he bought a box of 250 Grams. When I asked my supervisor for the key to the cash register, the supervisor who had it was still in hiding, not daring to show her face. The supervisor who had jammed the man between the door and doorframe went looking for my supervisor and found her only after 15 minutes searching. Some have asked me if I would not get in trouble with my boss. But I doubt this. That day was the only day we sold something to someone. The old man went happily back to his wife with the chocolates and a story to tell her. Before he left he told me his wife loves shopping at places where people are friendly and funny. I even involved one of my friends from work. I know my boss will be making comments on my work but its either my clowning in the store or my resignation from the store.
Love,
Philip De Maeyer
Belgium, Europe