August 31, Watseka.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Salvage.
August 29, Chesterton.
The salvage RV places are eighty miles away near Elkhart but we go anyway, Fridman a kid in a candy store. He finds an awning for less than a third of its regular price, and Danny finds a truckload of other stuff for the circus fleet.
The salvage RV places are eighty miles away near Elkhart but we go anyway, Fridman a kid in a candy store. He finds an awning for less than a third of its regular price, and Danny finds a truckload of other stuff for the circus fleet.
Grand finale.
August 28, Hartford.
The Poemas gave their last party at Kelly Miller Circus last night.
Barring an eleventh-hour surprise, they are not going to be here next year, and so the big all-circus parties.
It was Gordo's tenth birthday.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Abyss.
August 28, Hartford.
In the grip of a nasty head and stomach ache for the last three days, only the abyss of sleep for relief. It finally lifted some time in the afternoon yesterday.
The fundamental joy of not being in pain, so primordial, as forgotten as breathing in the beat of our lives.
In the grip of a nasty head and stomach ache for the last three days, only the abyss of sleep for relief. It finally lifted some time in the afternoon yesterday.
The fundamental joy of not being in pain, so primordial, as forgotten as breathing in the beat of our lives.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Empire.
August 23, Empire.
The beautiful little beach in Empire was windy, the sand lashing at your skin. It was crowded, people in the cold water.
The kids ran forever, into the surf, got wet, climbed high into a playground anchored in sand.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Evening on a Saturday.
August 21, Lewiston.
The new tent, it is now official, will arrive in the next couple of weeks. The marquis has been here since the beginning of the season and we've been waiting for the rest ever since.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The bag lady.
August 20, Oscoda.
Circus and personal news all in one: the recycling has been going stronger than ever, not because we're back in Michigan where you can get money for it, but because I've enlisted Jeremiah and even some of the Mexican crew to pitch in, brought them bins to collect the stuff, and they're actually doing it. I do the rounds to gather up all the recycling every day in between shows and for several weeks now we've had to find a recycling center almost every other day because the van gets so full. More often than not, as in Holly, it's the sponsor who helps us out by taking it all.
Father Notter came by again for a few days, and as I was picking up bottles and cans one evening he asked me if I was the bag lady. He then asked me about what to see in Paris, where he's going to accompany a sick friend in the fall.
Ask the bag lady from France.
Jokes aside, from the little that I know Kelly Miller Circus is the first and so far only circus in America fully committed to doing a small part to leave our world a little better every day. It's a modest part but I firmly believe it's an important one all the same.
Circus and personal news all in one: the recycling has been going stronger than ever, not because we're back in Michigan where you can get money for it, but because I've enlisted Jeremiah and even some of the Mexican crew to pitch in, brought them bins to collect the stuff, and they're actually doing it. I do the rounds to gather up all the recycling every day in between shows and for several weeks now we've had to find a recycling center almost every other day because the van gets so full. More often than not, as in Holly, it's the sponsor who helps us out by taking it all.
Father Notter came by again for a few days, and as I was picking up bottles and cans one evening he asked me if I was the bag lady. He then asked me about what to see in Paris, where he's going to accompany a sick friend in the fall.
Ask the bag lady from France.
Jokes aside, from the little that I know Kelly Miller Circus is the first and so far only circus in America fully committed to doing a small part to leave our world a little better every day. It's a modest part but I firmly believe it's an important one all the same.
Days of summer still.
August 19, Standish.
Heading north on I-75, traffic getting thinner, the air cooler, days of summer to enjoy, already the leaves are turning around here, and the circus ponies are growing their winter coats.
Heading north on I-75, traffic getting thinner, the air cooler, days of summer to enjoy, already the leaves are turning around here, and the circus ponies are growing their winter coats.
Friday, August 19, 2011
A day in Flushing.
August 18, Flushing.
The French bakery is still there, and so is the café next door, and we're still parked at the same location, by the river, and the whoop, and the gazebo, great town, great lot, great bread, a day full of straight happiness.
The French bakery is still there, and so is the café next door, and we're still parked at the same location, by the river, and the whoop, and the gazebo, great town, great lot, great bread, a day full of straight happiness.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
No tent.
August 16, Westland.
Mess with the sponsor here and we sit pellmell on the small parking lot for a long time but before that I get yelled at by a lady cop with an attitude, threatened with a ticket and endangering public safety by idling in front of the court house, waiting for orders to move (they never came, I moved anyway.)
There is no tent, no aerial acts, Fridman does the rolla bola, for me it's time for a different eye on things.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Farewell.
August 14, Romeo.
I left the lot at five thirty this morning with the rest of the circus and went over to park in front of the Whites' house. We had a lunch of corn picked in their four-acre back yard, hamburgers on the grill and home-baked brownies, the quintessential American meal to crown Julie's farewell.
I drove her to the airport on my way here in the afternoon.
I left the lot at five thirty this morning with the rest of the circus and went over to park in front of the Whites' house. We had a lunch of corn picked in their four-acre back yard, hamburgers on the grill and home-baked brownies, the quintessential American meal to crown Julie's farewell.
I drove her to the airport on my way here in the afternoon.
Chance meetings.
August 13, Ypsilanti.
We met Max at the Ypsilanti co-op, my annual health food store favorite, when he heard us speak French. Before we knew it we were invited to stay at his in-laws' house so that I wouldn't have to drive back from Romeo, some eighty miles north, to leave Julie at the airport tomorrow. We spent the afternoon in and around Detroit, then met the White family for the second show.
We ended up staying at the motor home on the lot so that Fridman could have a place to sleep, but went over to the Whites for dinner. It was such a perfect farewell from America, this beautiful family with sons and daughters spread out all over the world, France, Austria, the Philippines, this beautiful family full of songs and love and incredible generosity. They sang grace, and it was like a song from heaven.
Julie was enthralled.
The tooth fairy.
August 13, Ypsilanti.
Dylan lost his first tooth right before the second show.
He was scared, then excited to learn about the tooth fairy. He had loosened it yesterday playing with his legos.
Dylan lost his first tooth right before the second show.
He was scared, then excited to learn about the tooth fairy. He had loosened it yesterday playing with his legos.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The project.
August 11, Point Place.
I've been working on the Mudshow Diaries pictures project, shuffling images around, adding some, taking others out, and here is the result.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63140412@N06/sets/72157627411039118/
I've been working on the Mudshow Diaries pictures project, shuffling images around, adding some, taking others out, and here is the result.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63140412@N06/sets/72157627411039118/
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