May 31, Woodsboro.
Cathy's parents surprised her with a beautiful horse yesterday. The ten-year-old European Belgian mare, a Brabant named Aurra, comes from a farm in the area and replaces the pony that they got earlier in the season and sold back in Millersburg, Ohio. In a bizarre twist for a circus-pony-to-be, it was afraid of kids.
Aurra has a red roan coat, also known as bay roan.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
This and that.
May 31, Woodsboro.
The heat again, and a pool party at Argio's for the kids.
A week now that I drive alone, as there is always one (or two, or three) circus vehicle down by the side of the road. This morning it was a flat tire, two days ago a dirty fuel injection pipe, the day before an overheated engine. It's a never-ending game.
But there was a surprise leaving Olney. The Yingers had told me they had watched the circus go by on Sunday from their house, which sits right on highway 97 in Brookville, and there they were again this morning as we drove by, I looked over and saw them, however fleetingly, the both of them sitting in lounge chairs on their front yard, at six-thirty in the morning, grinning and waving.
It made my day, it was so sweet.
The heat again, and a pool party at Argio's for the kids.
A week now that I drive alone, as there is always one (or two, or three) circus vehicle down by the side of the road. This morning it was a flat tire, two days ago a dirty fuel injection pipe, the day before an overheated engine. It's a never-ending game.
But there was a surprise leaving Olney. The Yingers had told me they had watched the circus go by on Sunday from their house, which sits right on highway 97 in Brookville, and there they were again this morning as we drove by, I looked over and saw them, however fleetingly, the both of them sitting in lounge chairs on their front yard, at six-thirty in the morning, grinning and waving.
It made my day, it was so sweet.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day.
May 30, Olney.
My favorite lot and my favorite two-day stand of the whole season reaffirmed, even with the intense heat that came on.
My friend Nileeni and her husband came over to have breakfast with us this morning, our annual rendez-vous and another favorite. Last night we went shopping in the new mall down the street and the evening crowds flowed over the parking lot from the café next door, the summer holiday spirit with us, even though Memorial Day, like most other holidays, are work days in the circus.
The sponsor changed from the Rotary Club to the VFW here this year, and as I was taking out the recycling I got into a conversation with Janet Yinger and her husband, David, a veteran of World War II. He was recruited at the end of the war but never saw combat but rather was stationed in the South Pacific; this was right after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. Janet said she was envious of our traveling life; I said circus work was hard work but worth every drop of sweat under the roaming stars.
Here's to the men who saved my country, even if they were very far away from it.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Josh's off to the army.
May 29, Olney.
Josh had joined us again shortly after we left Arkansas. He's leaving today; he signed up for the army.
Since he worked with us last year he got married and gained a family of five, and there's one more on the way. I'm going for the health insurance and the salary, he said, and I'll get to retire by the time I'm forty-two. His is a military family, and he has a few buddies already doing their time in the armed forces. All I'll have to pay is utilities he said, they'll pay for our housing, and I can get a job after I retire.
He's catching a bus back to Arkansas this afternoon and will be in basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina in two weeks.
We'll be doing our same old drill in Massachusetts.
Soles and sequins.
May 28, Hancock.Mariana's shoes are a little more than one year old.
Worn everyday, worked everyday.
Morning dream.
May 28, Hancock.
Dylan and I woke up early to see my dream car parked in front of our house.
Almost.
Hancock.
May 28, Hancock.
The kids hardly slept last night, waking up coughing and ill, both of them in turns, so I hardly slept either.
We had breakfast in a lovely café down the road in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, a stone throw and a world away from sinking Hancock. The town seems to be going the way of so many other rural towns, slowly sinking down into the river that defines it and into oblivion. Two restaurants have closed since last year, the park where we stay seems to be deteriorating, and there isn't really anything here but a dollar store, an old laundromat and a couple of gas stations. Still there was the pool, right behind our trailers, and the girls enjoyed it, watchful not to mess up their stage make-up. The kids and I went too.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Little circus achievers.
May 27, Hancock.
It's amazing what you achieve in a day do when you get up at four thirty in the morning.
Make three cups of coffee, washing the coffee-maker in between (it's a one-cup one,) drive sixty miles of steep uphill and downhill grades, do laundry, make eggs for breakfast, homeschool your kids, wash dishes and clean house, and it's just ten o'clock in the morning.
What's more, by seven everybody was on home base, safe and sound.
We have the day off, the Kelly Miller Circus Hancock jump tradition.
Call it a good day already.
It's amazing what you achieve in a day do when you get up at four thirty in the morning.
Make three cups of coffee, washing the coffee-maker in between (it's a one-cup one,) drive sixty miles of steep uphill and downhill grades, do laundry, make eggs for breakfast, homeschool your kids, wash dishes and clean house, and it's just ten o'clock in the morning.
What's more, by seven everybody was on home base, safe and sound.
We have the day off, the Kelly Miller Circus Hancock jump tradition.
Call it a good day already.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Dude day.
May 26, Grantsville.
I was hoping to go back to Morgantown to see my friend Joel, a professor and a fellow documentary journalist, but it is too far. We spent the afternoon on Tuesday, left the kids at home with Dana and had a couple of hours to hang out at Joel's office. He had on a Big Lebowski tee-shirt, we're both big fans, we kept joking about the scene where Mr. Lebowski asks The Dude if he has a job.
The lot is nice today but there isn't anything in town as far as groceries and we have no drinking water left. Yesterday was just a crossroad on the National Pike, and tomorrow, Hancock, is not much better, although there is a mediocre grocery store.
I took the kids hiking at the Fort Necessity National Battlefield state park yesterday, such a beautiful day in the mountains of the Laurel Highlands, and we learned about the National Pike, how it used to be the road West at the time of the Revolutionary War, and about the battle that took place at the site, with the British, led by George Washington, against the French, the first of many battles in the French and Indian War for what was was called the Ohio territory, really what was the entire North American continent to the pilgrims then. As always, I wished I could stay a little longer than a day.
There were two steep downhill grades this morning, the thirteen percent mercifully short, and again the Fuscos by the side of the road, so I traveled alone one more time.
Dylan started being ill last night with what seems like the same bug as Nicolas, was feeling better this morning, then felt bad again.
I was hoping to go back to Morgantown to see my friend Joel, a professor and a fellow documentary journalist, but it is too far. We spent the afternoon on Tuesday, left the kids at home with Dana and had a couple of hours to hang out at Joel's office. He had on a Big Lebowski tee-shirt, we're both big fans, we kept joking about the scene where Mr. Lebowski asks The Dude if he has a job.
The lot is nice today but there isn't anything in town as far as groceries and we have no drinking water left. Yesterday was just a crossroad on the National Pike, and tomorrow, Hancock, is not much better, although there is a mediocre grocery store.
I took the kids hiking at the Fort Necessity National Battlefield state park yesterday, such a beautiful day in the mountains of the Laurel Highlands, and we learned about the National Pike, how it used to be the road West at the time of the Revolutionary War, and about the battle that took place at the site, with the British, led by George Washington, against the French, the first of many battles in the French and Indian War for what was was called the Ohio territory, really what was the entire North American continent to the pilgrims then. As always, I wished I could stay a little longer than a day.
There were two steep downhill grades this morning, the thirteen percent mercifully short, and again the Fuscos by the side of the road, so I traveled alone one more time.
Dylan started being ill last night with what seems like the same bug as Nicolas, was feeling better this morning, then felt bad again.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Stressful, and stupid.
May 25, Farmington.
Stupid is the word.
After a stressful jump this morning, Nicolas waking up vomiting and coughing, we had to stop as he was sick, and heaving, a three-mile steep uphill stretch before town, and two circus vehicles down again, Casey and the Fuscos with Armando at the top of the hill, I made it to the lot fine once again, only to go on and be stupid, parking myself when Alex didn't appear.
You don't park yourself in the circus; that's someone else's job, and a golden rule, not to mention something I've known perfectly well since the first day on the road with Chimera. Jim Judkins was an angry manager and if you made one mistake it would cost you in seething stares, so I am grateful Gustavo is the fleet boss here.
He wasn't even angry, when he should have been.
Stupid is the word.
After a stressful jump this morning, Nicolas waking up vomiting and coughing, we had to stop as he was sick, and heaving, a three-mile steep uphill stretch before town, and two circus vehicles down again, Casey and the Fuscos with Armando at the top of the hill, I made it to the lot fine once again, only to go on and be stupid, parking myself when Alex didn't appear.
You don't park yourself in the circus; that's someone else's job, and a golden rule, not to mention something I've known perfectly well since the first day on the road with Chimera. Jim Judkins was an angry manager and if you made one mistake it would cost you in seething stares, so I am grateful Gustavo is the fleet boss here.
He wasn't even angry, when he should have been.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Another hundred miles.
May 24, Waynesburg.
Long long jump. Don't know where the "If it's more than a hundred miles it's a day off" rule went.
Three vehicles down by the side of the road, first the Fuscos (broken axle,) then Lucky and Vickie (broken tire,) then Carolyn (broken something else.) There were also two scales, and one open. Fridman got "No violations." I drove ahead, stopped for gas somewhere near Wheeling, West Virginia, and made it to the lot fine.
Fridman got here in time for lunch.
Long long jump. Don't know where the "If it's more than a hundred miles it's a day off" rule went.
Three vehicles down by the side of the road, first the Fuscos (broken axle,) then Lucky and Vickie (broken tire,) then Carolyn (broken something else.) There were also two scales, and one open. Fridman got "No violations." I drove ahead, stopped for gas somewhere near Wheeling, West Virginia, and made it to the lot fine.
Fridman got here in time for lunch.
Monday, May 23, 2011
ABC.
May 23, Woodsfield.
It rained again last night, we were spared during the trip, and it started raining as the morning went on. The road was correctly dubbed "hilly and curvy" on the route slip.
With our French textbooks all filled we are now learning English, and Nicolas looks over Dylan's shoulders as we use an online site. Dee Dee has her hands full and cannot handle one more, so I am teaching Dylan at home, accent be damned. This morning he started the English ABC and wouldn't stop until P, the site's animations way more fun than my droning voice.
It rained again last night, we were spared during the trip, and it started raining as the morning went on. The road was correctly dubbed "hilly and curvy" on the route slip.
With our French textbooks all filled we are now learning English, and Nicolas looks over Dylan's shoulders as we use an online site. Dee Dee has her hands full and cannot handle one more, so I am teaching Dylan at home, accent be damned. This morning he started the English ABC and wouldn't stop until P, the site's animations way more fun than my droning voice.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Old news and a pig.
May 22, Old Washington.
About ten days ago Gordo was hit in the eye; he was walking by as Buckner was cleaning a BB gun and it went off. The plastic pellet cut through the first layers of Gordo's eye and he couldn't work the entire week, but luckily the wound didn't leave a scar and he has fully recovered.
Father Notter came and went, with a mass and some help with his truck in between.
At the country market the other day Ryan bought a pig.
By way of an explanation he says that's what you get for being a clown, a license to act like an idiot. I say that's what you get for being a clown, a license to get a pig and get away with it. He already started to train Chancho, as the pig has been baptized, with amazing results. And I'm trying to convince him (Ryan, not Chancho,) to let me use him (Chancho, not Ryan,) as the circus' first official fresh vegetables and fruits composting center.
About ten days ago Gordo was hit in the eye; he was walking by as Buckner was cleaning a BB gun and it went off. The plastic pellet cut through the first layers of Gordo's eye and he couldn't work the entire week, but luckily the wound didn't leave a scar and he has fully recovered.
Father Notter came and went, with a mass and some help with his truck in between.
At the country market the other day Ryan bought a pig.
By way of an explanation he says that's what you get for being a clown, a license to act like an idiot. I say that's what you get for being a clown, a license to get a pig and get away with it. He already started to train Chancho, as the pig has been baptized, with amazing results. And I'm trying to convince him (Ryan, not Chancho,) to let me use him (Chancho, not Ryan,) as the circus' first official fresh vegetables and fruits composting center.
Happiness in a day.
May 21, New Philadelphia.
What makes for a moment you know you will remember?
Is it your children's face when they look at you and smile? Is it because nothing bad happened, nobody got ill nor scraped their knees falling? Dylan rode his new bike all day, til he dropped, literally, asleep on the couch, and slept for three hours straight. The minute he was up he was back on the bike again, and he rode til late and dark. Is it because it is warm and sunny after what felt like an eternity under gloomy skies? We were finally basking in the sun, and the heat, today, the feel of a summer day soon a promise. Is it because the lot is inviting, clean, and the town too, people out on patios for lunch, a bookstore and a café, the air of a Saturday?
It is, and also the intangible, indefinite things of a day lived in joy, to the brim, rather unnoticed, filled with the insignificant stuff of your own happiness.
What makes for a moment you know you will remember?
Is it your children's face when they look at you and smile? Is it because nothing bad happened, nobody got ill nor scraped their knees falling? Dylan rode his new bike all day, til he dropped, literally, asleep on the couch, and slept for three hours straight. The minute he was up he was back on the bike again, and he rode til late and dark. Is it because it is warm and sunny after what felt like an eternity under gloomy skies? We were finally basking in the sun, and the heat, today, the feel of a summer day soon a promise. Is it because the lot is inviting, clean, and the town too, people out on patios for lunch, a bookstore and a café, the air of a Saturday?
It is, and also the intangible, indefinite things of a day lived in joy, to the brim, rather unnoticed, filled with the insignificant stuff of your own happiness.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
A good day in paradise.
May 21, New Philadelphia.
What a difference a day makes, and in the transient circus, I feel, more than anywhere else.
Days of rain and mud and soggy moods, and today a perfect circus morning, spotless lot, cheery crowds, prancing ponies, a whoop right there, and the sun. I am soaking it in, reveling in a good day in circus paradise made better by finally being able to go to garage sales and find the right-size bike for Dylan.
Country market.
May 20, Millersburg.
We went to the market in the auction grounds right behind the circus and stepped back in time, Amish and other country folks selling chicken and swans, giant rabbits and turkeys, puppies and goats, buggies in the background, surely the Saturday hub for a rural community where the post office clerk on his way to lunch went back to open his desk when he saw me come with a letter in hand, a tiny one-room operation for a tiny hamlet where there doesn't appear to be much more than buggy sale stores and a picturesque landscape straight from a period movie.
We went to the market in the auction grounds right behind the circus and stepped back in time, Amish and other country folks selling chicken and swans, giant rabbits and turkeys, puppies and goats, buggies in the background, surely the Saturday hub for a rural community where the post office clerk on his way to lunch went back to open his desk when he saw me come with a letter in hand, a tiny one-room operation for a tiny hamlet where there doesn't appear to be much more than buggy sale stores and a picturesque landscape straight from a period movie.
Friday, May 20, 2011
The morning.
May 20, Millersburg.
The last stretch of the road was tough for our circus fleet, steep hills and curves, Armando's truck all but stopping going up, trucks veering dangerously in the curves, moving in slow motion. We are always at the same spot in Millersburg, in the heart of Amish country, but not this year, because that lot in under ten inches of water.
On the road this morning I found myself crying out silently "It's not raining!"
We are ten miles out of town on an auction lot and there were some vendors as we pulled up: selling saddles, a tall rooster in a cage, country fares.
The Fuscos' truck broke down halfway here and Fridman is still with them with Castro and Dan as I write.
The last stretch of the road was tough for our circus fleet, steep hills and curves, Armando's truck all but stopping going up, trucks veering dangerously in the curves, moving in slow motion. We are always at the same spot in Millersburg, in the heart of Amish country, but not this year, because that lot in under ten inches of water.
On the road this morning I found myself crying out silently "It's not raining!"
We are ten miles out of town on an auction lot and there were some vendors as we pulled up: selling saddles, a tall rooster in a cage, country fares.
The Fuscos' truck broke down halfway here and Fridman is still with them with Castro and Dan as I write.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Yet.
May 18, Bellbrook.
It's intermission time on the first show and it hasn't rained yet.
That's a good thing because the cookhouse has not tent above it.
Tight lot.
Asphalt lot.
Rainy circus season emergency alternate lot, like so many others we've had in the past weeks.
We take what we get.
It's intermission time on the first show and it hasn't rained yet.
That's a good thing because the cookhouse has not tent above it.
Tight lot.
Asphalt lot.
Rainy circus season emergency alternate lot, like so many others we've had in the past weeks.
We take what we get.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Ride.
May 14, Sharonville.
Nicolas, forever coming out of his shell, rode a camel for the first time yesterday with Dylan, Sophie and Tony, mostly waving and grinning madly and you wouldn't know whether out of fear or sheer fun.
Together.
May 14, Sharonville.
Matt and his family came to visit, the joy of seeing them.
Nathan and Johnny had a double birthday party after the shows, the fun of being together, our little village enjoying good times together, unwinding, among the mad spin of our daily circus lives.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
