I am the ringmaster.
In one ring I have a lion tamer. The lion may be angry and agitated, the lion tamer has one job. Poke that lion and get him/her to roar. The lion tamer will get scratched and smacked around a bit. My job is to intervene when the lion gets too angry.
There's a performer above me on the tightrope. She's a little uncertain how to proceed but she will only take steps if I'm not looking and on her own terms. Regardless, my job is to catch her if she falls. She insists she won't fall.
The flying trapeze performer is gaining confidence. She is flinging herself onto different performance vehicles and her partners swing past her, catch her, she returns to her own swing, and all the while she is not to know that there is a safety net under her. I am her safety net. Oh, and she's in a different tent.
And then we have the ring that keeps changing performances but the performer stays the same. He juggles for awhile, brings out the cute little poodles, rides a horse around and, eventually, ends up naked.
My 15 year old has been at band camp all week. She's been practicing on astro turf in air temperature of about 100 degrees. The astro turf got up to 167. She's sunburned, baked, broiled, fried, and exhausted. I have missed her terribly. She's asleep on the couch and I can't bring myself to send her to bed. Tonight was her big performance on the football field. The family sat on the bleachers and watched this beautiful young woman slide, glide, and synchronize her steps with the other band members while playing her trumpet and looking independent and strong. It was beautiful. There were ice cream bars afterward. It was hard to ignore the different teenage boys who hung all over her, hugging her, slugging her, and making googly eyes at her.
Goodness.
A trip to Costco proved nearly the end of my sanity (as if I had any to begin with). I ended up with my own three younger ones along with my sister's two boys. My 10 year old son spent the entire time poking, smacking, prodding, and pinching his brother or cousins. Luckily, he ignored his sister.
The 12 year old girl noticed it was National Cheesecake Day and rejoiced when she found cream cheese in the refrigerator. Making cheesecake occupied her hands which want so much to be creating at all times. I was not allowed to help. I was not allowed in the kitchen. I wondered if she knew what springform pans were. I wondered if she knew where I kept them. If she knew where I kept them, I hoped she wouldn't fall while retrieving them from the cupboard above the refrigerator.
The 5 year old boy chased the dog around for awhile, trying to coax her onto a leash. We cleaned his room today. Translation: I cleaned his room while instructing him to pick up his dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. Then he wanted me to read to him. After that, we picked up his cousins and went to Costco where he and the other boys ran circles around the cart until a Costco worker yelled at them. Once home, he and his 4 year old cousin went "camping" in my closet, bringing all necessary equipment including a scooter, a rocking horse, three blankets, tools, and the oak pieces that fit on the side of his bed so he won't fall out. He informed me that his cousin is the dad and he is the son. The good son. While I took a shower, he added a campsite to the living room, as well. He was dirty from a day of play so I coaxed him out of his clothes into clean ones. That's only half true. I coaxed him out of his dirty clothes and, in mock shock said, "A bare naked boy!" to which he replied, "I'm not bare naked!" and he pointed at his socks. He threw those off then tackled me.
After the thrilling performance, we brought all of the children home and cut into the cheesecake which was baked in a springform pan.
Sitting around the table eating a sinful concoction, I am grateful for my little circus. And so grateful for my partner ringmaster who sees my weary eyes and leads the lion tamer out of the ring and into his pajamas. He helps the tightrope walker down from her perch and instructs her to brush her teeth. The girl on the flying trapeze has already come down from her performance and he tucks a blanket beneath her chin. The Jack-of-all-trades performer, he picks up and helps him change again, telling him a story while tucking him in.
It's a good circus.
In one ring I have a lion tamer. The lion may be angry and agitated, the lion tamer has one job. Poke that lion and get him/her to roar. The lion tamer will get scratched and smacked around a bit. My job is to intervene when the lion gets too angry.
There's a performer above me on the tightrope. She's a little uncertain how to proceed but she will only take steps if I'm not looking and on her own terms. Regardless, my job is to catch her if she falls. She insists she won't fall.
The flying trapeze performer is gaining confidence. She is flinging herself onto different performance vehicles and her partners swing past her, catch her, she returns to her own swing, and all the while she is not to know that there is a safety net under her. I am her safety net. Oh, and she's in a different tent.
And then we have the ring that keeps changing performances but the performer stays the same. He juggles for awhile, brings out the cute little poodles, rides a horse around and, eventually, ends up naked.
My 15 year old has been at band camp all week. She's been practicing on astro turf in air temperature of about 100 degrees. The astro turf got up to 167. She's sunburned, baked, broiled, fried, and exhausted. I have missed her terribly. She's asleep on the couch and I can't bring myself to send her to bed. Tonight was her big performance on the football field. The family sat on the bleachers and watched this beautiful young woman slide, glide, and synchronize her steps with the other band members while playing her trumpet and looking independent and strong. It was beautiful. There were ice cream bars afterward. It was hard to ignore the different teenage boys who hung all over her, hugging her, slugging her, and making googly eyes at her.
Goodness.
A trip to Costco proved nearly the end of my sanity (as if I had any to begin with). I ended up with my own three younger ones along with my sister's two boys. My 10 year old son spent the entire time poking, smacking, prodding, and pinching his brother or cousins. Luckily, he ignored his sister.
The 12 year old girl noticed it was National Cheesecake Day and rejoiced when she found cream cheese in the refrigerator. Making cheesecake occupied her hands which want so much to be creating at all times. I was not allowed to help. I was not allowed in the kitchen. I wondered if she knew what springform pans were. I wondered if she knew where I kept them. If she knew where I kept them, I hoped she wouldn't fall while retrieving them from the cupboard above the refrigerator.
The 5 year old boy chased the dog around for awhile, trying to coax her onto a leash. We cleaned his room today. Translation: I cleaned his room while instructing him to pick up his dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. Then he wanted me to read to him. After that, we picked up his cousins and went to Costco where he and the other boys ran circles around the cart until a Costco worker yelled at them. Once home, he and his 4 year old cousin went "camping" in my closet, bringing all necessary equipment including a scooter, a rocking horse, three blankets, tools, and the oak pieces that fit on the side of his bed so he won't fall out. He informed me that his cousin is the dad and he is the son. The good son. While I took a shower, he added a campsite to the living room, as well. He was dirty from a day of play so I coaxed him out of his clothes into clean ones. That's only half true. I coaxed him out of his dirty clothes and, in mock shock said, "A bare naked boy!" to which he replied, "I'm not bare naked!" and he pointed at his socks. He threw those off then tackled me.
After the thrilling performance, we brought all of the children home and cut into the cheesecake which was baked in a springform pan.
Sitting around the table eating a sinful concoction, I am grateful for my little circus. And so grateful for my partner ringmaster who sees my weary eyes and leads the lion tamer out of the ring and into his pajamas. He helps the tightrope walker down from her perch and instructs her to brush her teeth. The girl on the flying trapeze has already come down from her performance and he tucks a blanket beneath her chin. The Jack-of-all-trades performer, he picks up and helps him change again, telling him a story while tucking him in.
It's a good circus.
I missed National Cheesecake Day???
ReplyDeleteI bet you are an awesome ringmaster!!
I also love the Bill Clinton answer - I'm not naked. I have socks! :-)
Excellent writing!
ReplyDeleteI would like to run away and join the circus... My specialty is jumping through burning hoops. (aka spending evening with the in-laws)
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy with the circus. So true - so often!
ReplyDelete