The Greatest Show On Earth

Growing up I looked forward every year to the circus coming to town.  Perhaps because it was always close to my birthday, I associated the arrival of the Greatest Show On Earth with excitement and delight!For decades now the circus has had the ability to entertain and amaze children of all ages with acts of daring by men on the flying trapeze and feats of strength and agility by animals who seem as delighted by the applause as their human counterparts.

Going to the circus is a tradition for our family.  I went regularly each year as a child and now look forward to taking our grandchildren every year as well.  I buy everyone  new, coordinating outfits, we take a family photo together, and off we go.

The show changes slightly year to year but basically there are all the acts you would expect a circus to have, just performed with a little different music, new lavish costumes and a new theme each year.  Though it is very similar year to year it never gets old.  Not for me and not for our 5 little munchkins who can’t wait to see those clowns and tigers and  those trick riders on their beautiful horses, or the aerial artists who can take your breath away with their stunts that make them seem like they can almost fly, and especially the beloved elephants.

Having someplace to go every year or an event to attend with your children or grandchildren, or even with a friend, anchors the seasons of your life and feathers that big puffy pillow of memories you store up for yourself to look back on and curl up with when you need a warm place to go.

I LOVE the circus!  I love the showmanship, the music, the spotlights, the smell of the popcorn, and the look of wonder and delight on my grandchildren’s faces as they sit on the edges of their seats.

It marks the summer with a special memory that we each treasure and look forward to creating every year. The circus is no doubt headed to your area soon.  If you haven’t been in a while grab a child you love, or a friend who loves being a child for an afternoon, and get yourselves some tickets.  You can see when the circus will be in your area here.

We will be going in about a week and like my grandchildren, I can hardly wait.  As my granddaughter reminded me the other day “We are going to circus soon, right?  We have to go because it’s tradition isn’t it Lolli!”  Yes it is.  And it will be for as long as they want to go with me, which I hope will be for many, many more summers to come.  After all, it is The Greatest Show On Earth!