It's Circus Time

Feeling nostalgic lately, and it's all because of PBS. We are smack in the middle of their documentary series, "Circus" about The Big Apple Circus and what it really takes to put on the greatest show on earth. The new artistic director said it best; this small, one ring, not for profit circus is such an intimate experience, that it could never be duplicated on a one-dimensional computer screen. And it's so true. While watching it on TV, I could smell the popcorn and even feel the hay in the air because our family went to see them every year. In July, they would put up their tent at Arrowhead Farm in Lenox, MA, where Herman Melville once wrote about a big whale. When my son was ten, we told him he'd been to see the Big Apple eleven times, because he was born August 1, 1984. And he was born because a rabbi told me to imagine trapeze artists once upon a time. I guess I should never have been surprised when he grew up to be a performer.

I talk quite a bit with my daughter, almost every day, maybe just for a few minutes on her way into the hospital. But on Wednesday nights during the series, we call each other to dish about the circus characters. Why did she leave with bomber guy? How could they fire the trapeze artists? You really cried when the miniature horse died? Going to the circus was the one constant I could bring with us when we moved back to NJ from MA in 1986. Needless to say, I was not happy about the move. I like to put down roots, maybe because I was carted back and forth as a child between foster parents and biological family, between NJ and PA, never really getting a sense of belonging. If I had my way, we'd still be living at the edge of a bird sanctuary on East New Lenox Road, in Pittsfield, MA.... But I married a gypsy, so what could I do? I packed up my house and instead of heading out to the farm in the summer, I made the trek into NYC during the holidays for the grand opening of the BAC at Lincoln Center. I bought and framed the circus posters. We were members and went to the galas, we dragged as many friends and family members as we could with us. Yes, we ate the cotton candy!

My MIL, went to clown college after meeting Grandma Clown, Barry Lubin. She actually wrote her doctoral thesis on humor in psychotherapy. And I continued to make our pilgrimage to Lincoln Center until my youngest middle-schooler, the performer who'd rather make his own music, refused to go. I bet he'd go with me now, if he has the time before they head back into the studio. His girlfriend, a beautiful Catholic schoolgirl who competed for many years in Irish dance, would love to run away to the circus with us! Oh, and our 3 year old flower girl cousin in upstate NY would absolutely swoon. My daughter the bride would drop everything and go in a heartbeat. Maybe soon, we'll have some grandchildren to introduce to The Big Apple? My big surprise this week was that Grandma Clown, Barry Lubin, just friended me on Facebook! I don't think I've ever been prouder of such a fast friending!

Don't tell my new son-in-law, but I thought it would be good for him to see what's bound to be a big part of his future with my shana maidela and his new family! Just ordered the "Circus" DVDs from PBS for his Xmas present. http://video.pbs.org/video/1612780127/