A Circus Tale

The circus came to our town today, and we, being the fun-loving family of young children that we are, were there.  It was the first circus I have been to as an adult.

Seeing as how it has rained for 24 of the last 36 hours, the whole place was a muddy, muddy mess.  See?

Anyhow and who, we paid for two high-priced tickets and two got in free thanks to some coupons I picked up at the grocery store a few days ago.  (That in itself was a pretty cool story, because I go to that store about 3 or 4 times a year!)  We stood around in the mud for a while observing the petting zoo goats and llamas and camels until the big top flaps opened up and we found our seats.

It wasn't long until the lights dimmed, spotlights came on, and out came a pretty girl in a sparkly costume.  Big dramatic music poured out from who-knows-where, and our pretty performer spun and danced from a hoop 20 feet in the air.  And y'all?  I wouldn't admit this to just anybody, but tears sprang to my eyes and I had to stop myself from crying right then and there.  I don't know what came over me.  I suspect the joy of sharing such a simple thing with the people I love so much.  And then, sitting right there in our little bitty town watching a cheap traveling circus, I thought about a local 3 year old boy and my 26 year old sister-in-law, both beginning their own journeys against cancer.  And I was so glad and thankful to be where I was.

Once I got-a-hold of myself and quit boo-hooing, we enjoyed an hour and a half of one circus act after another.  And while we had wondered earlier how the circus could make a profit in our little town, we soon found out.  There was a constant stream of people selling incredibly overpriced sodas and snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy, inflatable animals and light-up swords. Aha.  So that's how they make their money.  Not off us, thankyouverymuch!  As we told the boys, "We came for the show!"


And really, other than one kiddie train carnival ride we passed on the way out, the boys didn't ask for anything extra.  (And no, we didn't ride the train.)


Cheap or not, the show was actually very enjoyable.  We had a great time talking it over and reliving it over our pancake supper when we got home.  Alan sat in my lap for most of the show so he could see better.  Worked out great for me, because I got to hear his commentary.  


For instance, the pretty girl spinning five hoola hoops in 3 different directions while standing on one foot?  Alan says, "I bet Kristin (his aunt) can do that!" 


And then there was the young man from Columbia wearing a LEE-OH-tard of epic proportions (I think I'll never like that color blue again) and bending and contorting in all different directions.  Assistants brought out a plexiglass box no bigger than a fish tank, and I'm thinking 'No way....' when, 'yes-way' he folded himself up inside that box and pulled the clear lid shut.  It was about that time Alan leaned over and said, "Daddy?  Can you do that?"


But the three little words that made every penny and moment worth what we spent came from Dale as we got out of the car at home.


"That was awesome!"