Another Trip to the Circus...

I took my kids to the circus again recently.

For info on last year's trip, look here.

I know, I know, Bozophobics like me shouldn't go to the circus. It's kinda like someone who's afraid of spiders hanging out at that spider exhibit at the zoo.

Which I avoid at all costs, 'cause I'm afraid of spiders even more than clowns.

However, the kids really enjoy our annual trip to the circus, and every year, I have the same thought: "Clowns have those big, floppy shoes, right? I can outrun someone wearing those things easy. Those painted messengers of death won't even get near me!"

Which is normally correct.

This year, however, one particular clown outsmarted me.

He was on roller skates.

That's right, every time I thought I was safe from that pancake makeup-encrusted servant of darkness, ZOOM!!! There he was. Circling me no matter where we were, awaiting me at every turn, a constant blur of polka-dotted motion, wheeling his way through the crowds, yelling "Welcome to the Circus!" and "Enjoy the show!"

At least that's what the kids told me he was saying. What I heard was more like "I will feast on your eyes" and "More souls for the Master...".

We did manage to escape Wheelie the wereclown long enough to get this really cool pic of the boys with Spider-Man:

*sniff* I didn't get my picture taken...

Then I spent a small fortune on cotton candy and lemonade, and we made our way to the bleachers, where roller skates can't go.

Then the fun began.

The lady sitting next to us was about five years older than me, and yelled and screamed and laughed more than any five-year-old in the crowd.

As the elephant came out and did his tricks, she proclaimed at the top of her lungs, "OH, HOW BEAUTIFUL, JESUS!!! I LOOOOVE ANIMALS, JESUS!!!!"

When the motorcyclists came out and did their admittedly amazing jumps and flips, she let out, "OOOOOOHHHHHH, NOOOOOOOOOOOO-----OH, LOOK,HE MADE IT, JESUS!!!!"

"I LOVE THE CIRCUS, JESUS!!!!"

"I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN, JESUS!!!!"

Perhaps she was praying throughout the entire circus. Perhaps her boyfriend, the patient-looking man she was with, is named Jesus.

I honestly don't know.

But as the kids watched the show, I found myself watching her. I found her outbursts, enthusiasm, and sheer joy to be rather infectious.

I enjoyed myself more because of her.

I think sometimes that if I could be that excited about something, be the kind of person who doesn't care what others think, the kind of person who just can't sit still or stop laughing because of the plain joy of being alive---

Well, that'd be something, wouldn't it?

I hope she's still having fun, wherever she may be right now.

I suspect she is, and I would certainly love to see her at the circus again next year.

Of course I'll go again next year. I hate clowns, but my boys are worth me having the heebie-jeebies for a while so that they can say "Wasn't that fun?".

Also, next year, I'll be wearing roller skates.
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Thanks for reading my ranting,
Brad