The circus
I don't have many days as busy as yesterday, but I'm reminded why I don't like them. We did school in the morning, then after lunch I took H. to Mandarin tutoring, stopped by the store to find black pants for B. (who needs them by Friday), came home, took Gretel to the vet, came home, organized myself to run a choir rehearsal, collected the people I needed to take to the rehearsal, ran the rehearsal (it's for our church's Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve), loaded everyone in the car, went home, collected the other who weren't at rehearsal, we drove to M.'s school picked her up, and then drove to the circus. J. had picked up sandwiches that we all ate in the car because we were cutting the timing so close.
After that, the circus was positively relaxing. And fun. And we had great seats. We had center front tickets in the lowest section. The youngest of the group were transfixed. G. declared that she thought the trapeze looked fun and K. really, really wanted to be able to drive the motorcycle on the high wire. H. would repeat at intervals to J. that, "This is so awesome!" M. spent a good portion of the evening paying attention to how the sound was managed and was able to explain why they kept the drummer of the band inside a plexiglass box. I enjoyed watching the little girls watch the circus as much as the circus itself, though I discovered that taking newly toilet-trained twins to a public restroom is an adventure all in itself. I was also really relieved when the lion and tiger act was done. I've decided that watching the trainer getting mauled is not my idea of fun and there were a couple of lions who were acting as if that is exactly what they wanted to do. And even when the trainer tries to assure us it is just a part of the act, I don't quite believe him when his voice is sounding a little stressed and is just starting to climb the caging.
But it was one of those great family outings that just works really well. The tickets were waiting for us just as they said they would be. We got to the arena in good time to find seats and visit the bathroom. Everyone had fun... with no meltdowns. And it was a good show. Just great family memories. And to top it off, M. was free and able to join us so we really had everyone there. Yet another benefit of children who go to school close to home. And I certainly don't downplay the fact that at 19, she still wanted to do something like this with her family. That's the kind of thing that just makes me smile throughout my day.
So, thank you Ringling Brothers for the free tickets. It was truly a blessing.
After that, the circus was positively relaxing. And fun. And we had great seats. We had center front tickets in the lowest section. The youngest of the group were transfixed. G. declared that she thought the trapeze looked fun and K. really, really wanted to be able to drive the motorcycle on the high wire. H. would repeat at intervals to J. that, "This is so awesome!" M. spent a good portion of the evening paying attention to how the sound was managed and was able to explain why they kept the drummer of the band inside a plexiglass box. I enjoyed watching the little girls watch the circus as much as the circus itself, though I discovered that taking newly toilet-trained twins to a public restroom is an adventure all in itself. I was also really relieved when the lion and tiger act was done. I've decided that watching the trainer getting mauled is not my idea of fun and there were a couple of lions who were acting as if that is exactly what they wanted to do. And even when the trainer tries to assure us it is just a part of the act, I don't quite believe him when his voice is sounding a little stressed and is just starting to climb the caging.
But it was one of those great family outings that just works really well. The tickets were waiting for us just as they said they would be. We got to the arena in good time to find seats and visit the bathroom. Everyone had fun... with no meltdowns. And it was a good show. Just great family memories. And to top it off, M. was free and able to join us so we really had everyone there. Yet another benefit of children who go to school close to home. And I certainly don't downplay the fact that at 19, she still wanted to do something like this with her family. That's the kind of thing that just makes me smile throughout my day.
So, thank you Ringling Brothers for the free tickets. It was truly a blessing.
Comments
David and I drove (somewhat insanely, but without children, so that made the drive slightly less crazy) to Chicago last weekend solely for the purpose of seeing Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan at the United Center on Friday with David's best friend from college. It was a great concert, and it looked like the United Center was getting ready for the circus.
On the other hand, all of the women's rest rooms at the United Center smelled terrible. It was weird. And smelly.
"See person mauled" is just not on my bucket list.
We were at the United Center. I didn't notice a smell (well, any odder than any other restroom), but then I was pretty fixated on how exactly I was going to manage the three us of using the toilets. We only just missed one of the girls (the one who was done and thought she should leave the stall) opening the stall door while some of us were still, um, occupied. I was able to grab the handle just in time.
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