The circus was in town Tuesday night, and I was lucky enough to score comp tickets. After a heart attack dinner at Taco Bell the girls and I headed for the fairgrounds to see Circus Gatti. (I was relieved to finally see the spelling of the name G-A-T-T-I, as I was bracing for Circus G-O-T-T-I, which would involve a lot of fake tans and open hostility.)
The ringmaster had the biggest Announcer Guy voice I have ever heard. Very broad and announcer-y. I spent too much time imagining how he must get through a day in his private life:
"Ladies and gentlemen, Puh-LEAZZE PASS the SALT!"
"If I may die-RECT your atTENtion to the MESS in the BATHroooooooom . . ."
The acrobats were appropriately exciting and I confess I got pretty dizzy at one point. The trained dogs were a hit with all the kids, of course. And I particularly enjoyed the snare drummer, who had the most important job of all. But the big hit of the evening was, of course, the elephant show.
At intermission Tika was led up to a stairway ramp where swarms of kids with $8.00 crushed in their little fists were waiting to ride the elephant. Smedley was beyond excited. I was anxious as only a neurotic mother can be, while visions of stampeding elephants tossing children like matchsticks filled my brain. I set aside my fears long enough to dig $8.00 out of my pocket and wait in the Kiss and Cry area.
Sparky was having none of it. "Don't you want to ride the elephant, Sparky?" we asked, many times.
"No way," she stated flatly. She stood with me in the Kiss and Cry.
What a ride Smedley got. Twice around the ring at a dizzying speed and back to earth to tell the tale. "Did you take my picture Mama? I wanna show Baylie, Mama. How many pictures did you get, Mama? Mama, can I take a picture, too?"
But of course I got photos! Here is a sampling.
That's Smedley in the back. Oh, she looks happy.
Look at her go!
That's her in the black sweat shirt and the silver necklace. She's grinning from ear to ear.
That Tika could really move.
I know what will be on our Christmas card this year!
No, Tika, no -- that's a DIFFERENT show. Time to go . . .
My turn now please.
Posted by: Raz | September 28, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Yes, that does explain the dizzy! Glad your daughter had fun atop the elephant and hope you got to see her smiles in real life even if you didn't quite capture them for posterity.
Posted by: Meg | September 27, 2010 at 03:48 AM
I'm still smiling. Thanks
Posted by: gramps | September 26, 2010 at 06:39 AM
Reminds me of the man whose minimum wage job was to "cleanse the colon" of the elephants, before they performed in the Big Top. This involved both irrigation and a shoulder-length rubber glove, the use of which I'm sure you can imagine.
When a friend suggested he get a more palatable job with higher pay in a local business, he said ..
"WHAT ... and give up SHOW BUSINESS?"
Posted by: boB Cleveland | September 25, 2010 at 07:50 AM
Dizzy as well. I should put this on my bucket list.
Posted by: Debbie | September 25, 2010 at 05:14 AM
Wow such photography skills. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. :)
Posted by: The Glamorous Life Association | September 24, 2010 at 01:07 PM
Hey mama .. I can't jump either. Don't I count?
Posted by: boB Cleveland | September 24, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Make sure I'm on your Christmas card list!
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Posted by: noe noe girl | September 24, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Did you know that elephants are the only mammal that cannot jump? I think that's a very good thing.
Posted by: Mental P Mama | September 24, 2010 at 07:55 AM
or become a paparazzi.
IRONY OF THE DAY: The ad at the bottom of the page: BORROWLENSES.
Posted by: boB Cleveland | September 24, 2010 at 06:52 AM
Whoa, I'm a little dizzy.
Posted by: Audubon Ron | September 24, 2010 at 06:15 AM