16 more days to get it right-the trip of October 9 ,2013

Today we drove on a small highway for a while , we drove through lots of small towns and had to slow town to 35 mph a million times . When it was time to get on the big highway it became multi lane and some kind town person alerted me to a flat . I pulled over and waited for
"the rescue rangers" . The mechanical department fixed me up and off I motored . The route slip said to take a left on historic us 66 . I saw the warning arrows and I saw historic us 66 BUT MUCH TO MY SURPRISE , there are 2 of them .. I knew right away I was doomed. I was on an OLD frontage road , I had to drive 15 miles extra . I turned around finally and very cranky I arrived . My day improved when we foraged at thrift stores and I stumbled upon a store called Glick or Glik or something like that and scored a pair of $100 Missme jeans for $33 !! woo hoo .

Tent raising

I have the best children at tent raising . Yesterday and today , actually many days these little children just start clapping after my little story of the circus . I talk about a typical day on this circus .I tell them how we we get up at 6am, We hop in our trucks and we drive to the next town. I talk about the 24 hour man and the arrows. The mechanics , otherwise known as the rescue rangers, the cook ,the school teachers, the tent crew , the animal care, the water man, the electrical department , the trumpet player , the drummer and the sound effects guy , the fact that at least 8 people weld , the costume work ,the laundry , the people who pull permits , all the people , the work , the history of the circus as I know it . I talk about regulations and laws , how lucky we are to just look at these magnificent animals . I try to explain how it is to work with animals.. Believe me I can go on for a lonnng time , there is a lot to tell . I talk about our history . I make some jokes . I take credit for the elephant going to the ladies room in the big top . I tell them about running away with the circus and I share the facts that we have some families that are 10 generations of circus . I talk about the family deal. We are a big extended family of 96 persons , together day in and day out for 38 weeks , 500 shows..200 set ups . We come to your town to entertain you and your families . How cool is that ? The circus is for everybody..maybe you are here with a friend or your cousin and your folks ..You could be watching families together performing .Someday when you come to the circus when you are older you can bring your children ..I guess that is one of the differences between nouveau circus and traditional circus..family
Some days I have a future in story telling , there is boatloads of money in that . Yesterday it was a little chilly I was somehow inspired to look fashionable . I wore maybe Ella's or Doris's or Lillian's or Alice's or Rose's small pillbox mink hat . When I walked by the children- a 6th grade boy said your hair is so cool . How fun !! It is the little things in life . Oh yes and of course I tell them about the show ! The shiny , sparkly show..

I don't have to look , I have to see

Star date September 27 , 2013.This morning we had the luxury of sleeping ,  we traveled last night . In the am we made our stove top espresso, Marshall walked the dogs and I shuffled Fresia into our bed because I wanted to make her bed into the dinette so we could sit and have coffee all civilized . I put my silver coffee chalice on the white slightly beat up Formica table .Marshall opened the door and it was magical ! Light and shiny stuff  makes great visuals , just like a sparkly circus costume with good lighting. Even the black duck tape that is holding the Formica down makes sense . I love how the coffee steam is blue tendrils on the bottom image .

Ode to Joy

A big day for the  Catholic Church on Kelly Miller Circus .We had Baptisms and first communions and confirmations all in the tent . Father Jerry Hogan flew in from Boston , always a joy to see this guy !! Sister Bernard and Sister Dorothy have been working with the people who practice . I really know very little about Catholicism , being Jewish , but I have friends of all religions and I was there in friendship cheering them on and taking photos !!
Of course us huge hams had to do a selfie type snapshot before the festivities began .

 

The event began with a procession and Marshall playing solo " Ode to Joy" on his getzen trumpet ! He sounded so clear and beautiful..

I am leaving out names because I am..it is their experience.. I am just sharing a little tidbit or two and some bad photos

 

 

the Rebeccas

after I total a truck there is nothing like some yoga to straighten out my mind and body .Fortunately Rebecca had planned a private yoga class.

NINA !!

we got to hang out with Nina while in the Chicago area. Meg, Rebecca and Nina and Aerial and Sean..always wonderful to see friends that are not part of your everyday life 

please look both ways

The most dangerous thing I do is drive . I am a safe driver , ask my insurance company . I even took a safe driving class to get a little break on my insurance . You can't be careful enough . The other day dear as I was driving..ok so I am driving , only 35 mph on a little curvy road . A person in a small gray rice burner vehicle pulled out , from the side street that had a stop sign, in front of me . They pulled out so close. The whole series of events is so fast and horrid . You turn the wheel away from them because you know your truck will kill them , you apply brakes..you think you can avoid this nightmare but the little gray rice burner doesn't stop. So you do what you have to do to avoid impact and then the crazy happens ..your truck takes over..it starts to slide and twist and turn and it is out of control and finally BAM something stops you and it is like an earthquake and the trailer slides around the truck for another BAM and you jump out of the truck !, glass is everywhere ,there is bent metal and the radio is on a hissing channel, some kind people come out of there home to ask if you are ok and do you need anything..you say you just need to walk around and call your family and your people who can make it better AND THEN you go around and you see the little gray car and they are in the middle of the road by the yellow line and they are fine and they drive away . You go into your truck and you look for your things .You find your purse and your phone and you see your coffee cup is ok in the cup holder and there are papers and a mess everywhere . The cops come lickity split they are very organized and get a wrecker or 2 or 3 . I call Marshall and Danny and Fridman and soon the truck and trailer are straightened out and Oscar takes me to the lot and I am glad it is a day off . I say I am sorry and Oscar says ,"everyday on your tent raising tour you say "we are over 300 tires going down the highway , sometimes things happen "..things happen.."

We arrive at the lot and Alex and Tavo park the truck like it is a normal day and then these amazing people start to fix things .

Marshall has some fabulous coffee and Tavana comes over and there is hugging and maybe I cried a couple of crocodile tears .

My friends on the circus ask me of my well being and we joke about a few things .

Before I know it my friend Rebecca shows up and whisks me to Chicago ..I take a long hot shower at her fun house, we have a little nosh and then go to some amazing yoga place and have a private perfect yoga class.

We finish the day by meeting up with Marshall , Fresia , the North's, Gene and the Rice's at the Midnight Circus..a fun sweet distraction to my morning .

We drove back to the circus I make some pasta and crawl into bed by 9.

What a day .