Do you have a single clowning experience that stands out above the others? If so, what is it and why does it stand out?

I can't say that there is one single experience that stands out above the rest! One memory that is very special to me is when clowning around with my grandpa, (a retired railroad engineer, minister and boy scout ranger), in the nursing home, as he was dying with cancer. It was so good to see him smile and enjoy his company, even when he was in pain!

Later on, it was a privilege to sit by his bedside and sing hymns to him as he was leaving us to be with Jesus. I was doing my "clown rounds" and they told us that he wouldn't be around much longer. So, there was the clown, sitting in his hospice room, singing worship songs to a dying soldier of the Lord.

I remember the first time I went out clowning! I went to a local nursing home which I have been visiting, regularly for the past 5 years. I was by myself and very nervous. I mean, what would people think of this great big, painted faced woman that was waltzing into their nursing home?!!

I was so surprised by the reception I received that day! Everyone was so excited to see the cartoon character coming their way! Some smiled, some laughed, and some wanted a hug or to share a story. One man, in particular, became a good friend to Merry Heart on that day and remained a good friend until his death. He started on that day, clowning around with the clown! He always had a joke to share with me when I came!

There was a woman there then that I will never forget, either. She had a name that was a little different than we are used to hearing today. I would always call her something different and say, "That's your name, isn't it!" She would always have to tell me her name and we would share a smile and a laugh. She always called me "Sweetie" and thanked me for coming to see her. She is gone now too, but, I have the memories and the promise of seeing her again!

Another highlight of my years in clowning was visiting the nursing home where my grandmother lived. She had such a good time "clowning around" with me! She would walk the halls with me, dance with me, sing with me, and being a retired school teacher who taught in a one room school house at one time, had some wonderful stories to tell!

Then... there are the clown classes that I have taught, and helped to teach! What memories those are! It is soooo good to be able to clown with those people that have a heart to give to others!

In what ways has your clowning education helped you?

Going to clown training weekends and the classes we attended at the very beginning, have been very helpful in having "hands on" training in make-up application, showmanship, character development, learning etiquette in hospital visitation, and the business of clowning. We have gained much by experience, but, guidance by others who have "been there" has helped us greatly! It is wonderful to visit with others that have been clowning for a long time and have a real heart for giving to anyone they come in contact with.

I think the most important thing that I have gained from attending clown training workshops is the knowledge that, if this is what you are "called" to do, it is going to come out of you-Right straight from the heart! It has to come from the heart to be "true clowning".

The definition of clowning that I try to hold fast to is that of being a "clod", a chunk of dirt, that is there to be walked on or used to make clay. That clay is molded into a usable object to do a specific function. Clowns are used as an outlet for our frustrations, thus the slap-stick comedy. They are also a neutral being. Many times I have had the experience of being the one person that someone would open up to, when they would not talk to anyone else, because they felt safe with me.

One situation that this brings to mind for me is in the story of the relationship that Merry Heart had with a particular, cantankerous woman at one of the nursing homes in our area.

This woman wanted nothing to do with "that clown" for the first couple of visits. I let it go at that, but, was friendly with her, just the same. With each visit to that nursing home, Merry Heart made an effort to befriend the bitter woman. She didn't get along with many people. I never gave up on making her my friend! She couldn't understand why I wanted to spend time trying to talk to someone who was nasty to me. I told her that I needed her friendship!

Eventually, after many visits and promises kept, (So that she knew she could trust me), we got to be good friends. We found out that we had something in common! Tuna fish!!! We both liked tuna fish sandwiches! So, since they never served it at that nursing home, and my husband doesn't like tuna fish, she and I would have tuna fish parties! I would bring sandwiches in and when I was done "clowning around" with everyone there, she and I would sit down and have our tuna party!

After much time spent with her, I found out that she had had a bitter life with promises unkept and no close family to look after her. She drew closer to the Lord, in the time that we knew each other and told me that she was prepared to see Jesus, when her time came. This was a situation where someone, a clown, took the time to get to know a woman, that others didn't want to be around, who needed a friend, and they both gained from it!

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How do you spend your time when you are not clowning?

I like to watch good comedy! Some of the old movies have such good scripts! One that our family really likes is staring Danny Kaye. It's about a jester that helps save a kingdom from "the bad guys".

There are many others that we enjoy, too. We all like Bill Cosby! Red Skelton was another performer that we have learned from.

I like to go for walks, especially at state parks, or other areas that are away from the "fast lane".

A lot of our time is spent in care giving responsibilities for our handicapped son. Andy has Angelman Syndrome. It is a malady that causes the person to move around in a fashion that may remind some people of a puppet, with some seizure activity, many, many sleepless nights, chewing shoe strings, clothing,cords,and getting fingers stuck in anything he could fit them into.

He has a very happy demeanor and loves to be hugged and give hugs. He can feed himself finger foods and is learning to feed himself with a fork. He needs total assistance with every aspect of life.

our other son, Andy Pandy

Think of what a toddler can do. That is pretty much what Andy can do. He doesn't talk and as a person with Angelman Syndrome, we are told that he can only achieve, at the most, a few words, in his lifetime. He loves attention, walking,(which the doctors didn't think he would ever achieve!), listening to peppy music, his toddler toys that make lots of noise when you push a button, and eating popcorn and vegetables.

Andy is 21 years old as of March 12, 2002. He has pretty much, been my "job" with no monetary compensation, but Oh, the rewards are great! His smile and hugs make life worthwhile.

Clowning has been wonderful for Andy and for us. Andy went almost everywhere we went. We very seldom had someone to watch Andy for us to get breaks. We didn't let that stop us from going! It was very hard, at times, but, we persevered. Andy is now living in a medicaid waiver home.

It has been wonderful to see what the interaction between Andy and our clown friends has done for him! He has tried a lot more to communicate by smiles, leaning toward you to let you know that he wants to be near you, and reaching toward others to take their hand or play patty cake. The clowns have helped him, because a good clown has patience and understanding. The ones that have exhibited that to Andy, have given him the opportunity to reach out to them and they take the time to reach out to him.

When Andy was in school, I would clown at nursing homes and hospitals. That gave me an outlet to give to others and to see that if they could handle the situation they were in, I could handle mine. With God, all things are possible!

We love animals! We have three dogs and two cats at this time! The two cats were saved from starvation by our daughter, who is in nurses training at this point in time.

Our oldest son is very supportive of our "clowning around" even though he hasn't done it himself since just after taking the class. He is a perfect, plain clothes clown! He has helped us in many ways to keep up our volunteer clowning.

Tinker works at a local factory, as a maintenance mechanic. He has been at that job for close to 30 years now. He puts over 40 hours a week into that job and really enjoys when he can get out and make other people smile. He also enjoys playing the character of Dr. U. B. Better, giving out his huge shots, aspirin tablet, suppository, medicine for funny-bone therapy, etc. to those in the hospital. He and Santa Claus are very good friends, also. When we can get into costume and go out to cheer up others who have been over burdened, it really helps us to forget our troubles.

 

THANKS Mary "MERRY HEART" for sharing your heart and allowing us get to know you as we learn what Creative Comedy Company is all about!!!

Remember..... if you have a question about clowning that you would like to ask, just email us and we will add your question (and an answer of course!) to this list.