The Cirus Is In Town

     One of my earliest memories is of my father telling us of how he always knew when the circus was in town. They would march the animals in a parade, with all the fellow actors in the big top.
It was a big deal, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily. Daddy would tell stories of Joe-Joe the dog faced boy, and other circus freakish anomalies. Stories of his youth, are vivid in my mind, there were so many!! Gene Autry, Disney, Little Jimmy Dickens, Davy Crocket, Dracula, I thought these were my relatives. They were at dinner with us every night, in some form of story. And that is just the tip of the Homer, that me being first born, heard these stories the longest.
      Guess that is why, when Cirque Du Soleil comes to town, I will try and be there. Now this is not my daddy's circus.This is my circus story to tell.
     My friend, Brooks Ann, turned me onto this gem of a circus years ago. In fact Emma's first one, she slept on the bleacher floor. Now they have nice seats, and my baby is 29.
   Recently we just went to see Luzia, the new cirque that is playing in Atlanta.
   I love the big tent most of all, the costumes and the play. It is very much like an opera, or play with circus acts through out. This one was entirely in Spanish, most I have seen have been in French.
The acrobatic acts are great and so close, all of it makes me nervous. There are people all over the place on ropes and swings, and poles, your head is constantly turning. The stage design is over the top fantastic, and to be completely honest, I don't know how it all gets put up. You will be watching someone hanging onto a pole, dressed like a hummingbird, when the workers put up a different set. It is movement in its finest form. Everybody has a job, and well oiled machine. This particular cirque had water involved that was a game changer. I can not explain it, how it works, I just know that it is magic. Yes this circus has magic, advanced magic, minus the smell of the animals. The animals in this circus, were built and operated by people, and I could not breathe watching them. I felt like they were alive. There is still a child like quality in all of us, that needs this magic.
    My Beloved Hubs, and daughter went with me this time, and there are two tiny tents to go through before you hit the big top. That have shirts and programs, with refreshments. I saw a flowered headband that lit up, and of course had to have one!! ( I am worse than a child!!) Every one needs flowers in their hair, and then it lights up!! I told Emma to call me Freida!! I think it was lost on her. ( I looked just like her) Then we went to our seats, middle, center, perfect. ( too expensive but so much is anymore)  Emma and I nearly jumped out of our seats several times, and I may have screamed, ( I happen to not be a quiet person) We were fascinated by their bodies, ripped with muscles, and tiny people. I explained to Em, I never even could do the Monkey Bars!! these people are amazing.
   Then this contortionist just appeared, I never saw him, and he was flying a freak flag of double jointed body parts. It was pretty near daddy's Joe-Joe the dog faced boy, times a million. I looked through my fingers, honestly it was horror show weird, in a good way?!?
     I hope at some time you get a chance to see Cirque Du Soleil in your city or near. It is worth the extra money, and  think of all the stories you can tell.
    I still listen to daddy tell his.