I have always wanted to be a clown ever since I was a child.  I wanted to go to the Ringling College in Sarasota, FL but they only took 100 people a year and you had to do flips, nothing I could do.  Consequently, that never came to fruition.  So after a life changing bout with breast cancer, I saw an ad in the newspaper for Clown College.  I called and met Daffodil, our amazing teacher who taught us everything about clowning and made us what we are today.  I teamed up with my awesome partner Raspberry and off we went to entertain at the hospital.  When you connect with your partner and can play off of them and you get so many accolades from the patients.  So many,” you brightened our day”, “thanks for all you do and some of them try to be funnier than us.  One of our best lines said to us was “you two should go on America’s got talent so you can get kicked off the first night” and they laughed and laughed thinking they were so funny. Then Razzberry said “you should clown at hospice. “ I said, no that is too depressing, but after a while I thought, let’s try it.  So we started clowning at hospice which is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.  These terminal patients laugh, commiserate with us and give us much more than the pleasure we could ever give them.  One patient, a former Franciscan nun, prayed for US and she was the one at the end of her life. 

Then clowning allowed me to realize another lifetime dream.  Hospice trained me in Reiki energy healing.  This is something I had wanted to do for over 20 years after I had a session and it helped the pain in my back.  So as a clown, we have helped patients who are transitioning (close to the end) calm their breathing, calm their fears and take their pain away.  I had the pleasure of doing Reiki sessions for Alzheimer patients with our wonderful Reiki Master Joye Swisher.  She said don’t go near this one patient, she usually does not like people near her.  So I worked on people next to her and next thing I knew she winked at me.  I winked back and we traded winks.  Soon I moved closer to her and she put her forehead to mine and winked at me.  She broke through her shell.  That was an amazing and rewarding moment.  I have also provided Reiki for animals and helped them to heal. 

So as good as clowning is for the patients, it is even better for us.  It can change your life, show you that laughter is definitely the best medicine and give you a brighter, caring outlook on life.  I am so blessed to be a part of this great organization and to have made such wonderful friends.

Hugs and laughs,

Telly