My Life With The Circus(s)

I have been to a variety of circuses 4 times in my life. I wouldn’t go now due to the cruelty of animals being reported, but I do have some memories from each time I went.

1. 1976 - I was 5. Momma took me to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in Little Rock, AR. I was young but I remember it being a bit chaotic and getting a big coloring book.

2. 1988 - Karen’s Daddy was a Shriner and he got us some passes for Karen and Fanky and I to go when we all worked at Burger’s Lake. It was all wondrous and loud. Karen went to the bathroom when the guys were riding around in the little cars. Here is the conversation that took place in her absence:

All yelling loudly to be heard over the noise -

Ricki: What do Shriners do?!

Fanky: What?!

Ricki: (Yelling louder) WHAT DO SHRINERS DO?

Fanky: They help burned children!

Ricki: What?!

Fanky: (Yelling louder) THEY HELP BURNED CHILDREN!

Ricki: (Paused) THAT’S IT! WE ARE OUTTA HERE!

Fanky then looked bewildered and we were staring at each other with our mouths dropped open. He could not understand why I would want to leave and not support such a noble cause. I could not understand why he or anyone else at the Convention Center would be there in the first place and why nobody was arresting the Shriners as I thought Fanky said “They help burn children.”

3. 1995 - I used to work in Human Resources at Kroger’s headquarters. Kroger was a sponsor for Ringling Brothers stop in Dallas. We got some primo tickets. Anne, Fanky, Colin and I went and we had front row center!

During intermission, we got some snacks. Anne set her nachos near the railing to get situated and they fell off onto the steppy-things the elephants use when they all stand on each others backs. The whole 2nd half, I was beside myself fearing that the elephants would use that step and slip and all of them would fall and break their legs and they would have to be put down. Then I thought what if one of them eats the cheese and is lactose intolerant and then gets affected and ruins it for everyone. Or what if one of those creepy clowns sees the cheese and tells on us and we get thrown out?

All went well and I was completely relieved, except Fanky bought a clown wig and creeped me out all the way back home.

I have a fear of clowns. Think about it – what are they hiding . . . .

4. 1997 - Kathy and I went to London. Our first evening there we were in Piccadilly Circus. It reminds me of Times Square. I remember people kept asking me for directions. Anyway, we went walking and walking and walking for hours. At one point we thought we were just at some park when in fact, we wound up at the Queen’s royal stables. I will never forget that and some day I plan on making it back there. I love getting lost when I am on vacation. Except when Rodney and I got lost in Compton. That was not cool.