Circus

When I was a child, my grandparents would take me to the circus each year. What do you suppose circus life is like? As I think about the day to day routine of a circus performer, I can't see any part of it that I envy (well, except for cleaning up elephant poop.....who wouldn't love that).

Our seats were pretty good, but we spent a considerable amount of time moving, standing, shuffling, passing snow cones and cotton candy. After a while, the kids got bored and asked if we could leave early. "Leave early from the circus?!!!," I exclaimed. "What brings a child to make such a request?" I wondered privately.

Then it became clear.

For quite a long period of time, we watched as one man tried unsuccessfully to sell a candy apple. Over and over he tried to pawn it off on us, but we weren't having it. I watched as he circled the crowd holding that apple high in the air. Who in their right mind would want to eat a sticky apple that has lingered in this man's hand while picking up particles of manure dust as they floated through the smelly circus air? Who could stomach the thought of savoring that thing?

Clearly this freaked my kids out, so we left early.

See you next year.