Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.

Subject: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:22 PM

I've picked up that a few people around here have been in the doldrums lately. I haven't had a great week myself...and George's death, and the continued fallout from 9/11 (mourning, military, and now, legislative) haven't helped....but...a couple of nights ago I watched an amazing man giving a talk to an audience for half an hour on the tube, and I was blown away.

I'd heard of Patch Adams, although I didn't see the movie. He hated it, and reminded the audience that NONE of the principals gave a penny to help his work with sick folks. He's a reluctant celebrity, but understands that it's neccessary to call attention to his work.

What I watched really affected me. He's sort of a guerilla fighter for happiness. I found his site, and read his "10 things to do, etc...." Maybe you might get a kick out of him.

click

Rick

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:30 PM

This is a better clicky. gets you to the beginning. (check out the left hand side for his "10 thingies")

click

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Robin2
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 10:38 PM

Thanks Rick!

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 11:18 PM

Great site Rick.....and a really neat guy. I never thought of looking for him on the net. I saw him on some Lifetime or Discovery or something program quite awhile back and he was pretty "animated"....but a lot of fun. Reminds me of another thread....hmmm...

Anyway, thanks for the site! (and yeah, he ranted a good bit about the movie then too)

Spaw

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 12:11 AM

Isn't he incredible, Rick?! Still loved the movie, though, which led me to his site.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 12:39 AM

I used to send him money back in the '80s, and I was a member of his organization. I talked to him on the phone once, too. I was really impressed with the idea of what he was doing and probably would have gone down to his hospital site in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, and worked there if I had been free to do so at the time. (See... there's at least one good thing in West Virginia.)

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 01:39 PM

Carol. Great to hear you had a connection with him. I knew NUTHIN' at all about him. The movie promo with Robin Williams and the red nose turned me off even checking him out. But.. in this day and age, an unreconstructed hippie with a degree, some books, a movie, and a REAL positive outlook on life can't be bad!

A line from his lecture:

(approaching a terminally ill patient) "So, you've only got a week to live? Well I'm your man! Last person I saw only had two days! Boy are you lucky!"

Weird...but fascinating.

Rick

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 01:56 PM

I first learned about him in an article in the Washington Post back in the mid 1980s. I enjoyed his sense of humor and everything, but what really got me hooked on helping him was the idea of providing free medical care for anyone who needed it. I was raising a kid by myself at the time and I couldn't get anywhere near as involved in what he was doing as I wanted to.

A couple of years later my life got really crazy and I lost track of him and his organization. I didn't think about it too much after that until I heard they were making a movie about him.

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: GUEST, Someone who never listened to Thumper
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 02:19 PM

Patch is colorful. Of that there is no doubt. I am glad he is now more involved with fundraising than medicine now. There was a time when most physicians he worked with knew better than not to double check his work. Still, I will continue to support his clinic.

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Dec 01 - 02:26 PM

I understand what you're saying GUEST. However, being one who has faced the choice between less than the best medical care, and no medical care at all, I'm glad that he has provided as many people as he has with at least some level of care.

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 09:00 AM

According to my friend Rebecca who moved to Pocahontas County, WV, there is also some very fine music to be heard there, and some fine people working to carry on the musical tradition....

Rita

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 01:21 PM

Can anyone give their thoughts on the movie? I'm thinking of renting it and I'm just curious.

Don't know about the quality of his medical work...but from what I gather, his patients who expired, died LAUGHING! Could be worse I guess.

Rick

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 04:38 PM

I thought it was formulaic, Rick. But it might be worth checking out to get some background. Although I don't think you really get the feel of what things were like from the movie.

For a better idea, try to imagine the most outrageous person you know running a free clinic in a poor neighborhood in Toronto.

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 05:18 PM

I can't. I don't have a medical degree!

Rick

Actually I get your point. Got someone in mind....and I like the concept.

Subject: RE: Feelin' a bit glum? This might help.
From: GUEST,BigDaddy
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 10:22 AM

West Virginia has mountains and music. That's about enough for me.