At The Circus

The Greatest Show on Earth really is the greatest show on earth.

We went to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus this week.

 What a show!

From the very opening act, we were mesmerized.  The parade at the beginning involved elephants, dogs, horses, dragons on segways, motorcycles, clowns, trapeze artists, acrobats and dancers all moving in different directions.  I don't know how they kept from colliding.   

I have to say, from the time the kids were born I have found that usually when something is advertised as "fun for the whole family", it usually isn't.  Things are always geared toward one age group or the other.  Either the adults or the kids are bored.  

But not at this circus.

We all were enthralled from the beginning.  I can't tell you the number of times we laughed, gasped, and applauded.  There are thrills, chills, and giggles galore.

My favorite thing is always the elephants.  I don't know why.  

One of the elephants started pooping, right out there in front of everybody, and a worker had to run out with a giant blue bucket and catch it all.  Then he had to clean up everything he had missed before he arrived with the bucket.  

I told my kids, "See, if you plan to run away and join the circus that could be your job."

The only downside was the cost.  Katie paid $8 for this box of cold popcorn.  And I thought movie prices were steep!

Well, no, there was another downside.  PETA was demonstrating outside about how circuses are cruel to animals.  I had to threaten Ben to keep him from trying to antagonize them.  PETA probably would not have approved of my methods, but I didn't want to get in a fight with the protestors.

The most jaw-dropping act was the last one.  They had a giant steel mesh ball and a man on a motorcycle drove around inside of it.  It looked like a very small ball and I noticed that it seemed cramped even with the one motorcycle in it.  They kept adding people on motorcycles though until they had eight in there!  Truly spectacular!