Countdown to Jump

As of 8pm this evening, I will have been at Smirkus a full week - and what a week it has been!

I am grateful that today was the first day I had to break out any of my foul-weather gear, but I did have to use my jacket and hat. The weather is bizarre here - literally hot and sunny one minute, then 10 degrees colder and pouring rain the next, then back and forth all day.

I will say, however, I don't think I've ever been in a prettier place. I'm hoping to go for a nice walk on Tuesday or Wednesday and take some pictures before we leave for Essex, VT.

It took a couple days for me to settle into life here. I'm used to living alone and having a whole house to myself - now I share a room about the size of my bathroom with another person - and the interesting part is that I'm now the tidy one! Yes, it is true!

I've spent 3 days painting - sandwich boards for signage, and stanchions to put ropes on and "candy canes" - barries to (hopefully) keep kids out of the aisles when the Troupers enter and exit the ring from the side entrances. I spent part of today "wrapping" the candy canes themselves - pvc pipe bent in a slight arc - with blue and white electrical tape. They look pretty good, if I say so myself!

A couple days ago I finally to to meet Rob, the founder and visionary of Circus Smirkus. He is quiet, unassuming, and genteely friendly, as seem to be everyone who is either from Vermont or has lived here for a while. Of course, I met him when I was taking a break for lunch, and covered head to toe in red paint (I had a little accident, and the paint won). I commented, "I had really hoped to look a bit more presentable when we met" - to which he looked me up and down, taking in my tie-dyed shirt and paint-splashed pants and exclaimed, "But you're so colorful! It's wonderful!" and I said, "Yes, I guess it is a bit Smirkus, isn't it?" :) Somehow it seems a fitting way to mark meeting the founder...

Last night was the "No talent talent show" - and what an evening it was! Many of the Smirkos and a few of the staff performed. It included clowning by staff, tap dancing, mime with sound effects, singing, piano-playing, air guitar and other instruments, magic, impressions, and the main requirement is that the talent you shared was not related to the circus (exception made for the clown emcee, as he was a long-standing part of the show). I was part of a bad magic act, and had a ball doing. I showed off my skill at juggling one orange, much to the amusement of all.

Today I was also given my offical Smirkus cell phone, to be an "in case of emergency" number for Trouper families.

This evening will be spent putting together my "master book" and getting organized for the upcoming shows, now that the majority of outdoor stuff (with the exception of washing the mats for kids to sit on, and I need better weather to do that) is done.

It really is amazing being part of an organization like this. Earlier today I was chatting with one of the Troupers, who was wearing a knee brace. She told me she tore her ACL last September doing gymnastics, had surgery in December, and is good to go. The dedication of these kids is amazing, and humbling. As are their many talents - and by and large, they are good, sweet kids.

And if I didn't mention it already, 80%+ of the shows are performed as benefits for worthy organizations - Circus Smirkus helps raise funds for some really great non-profit organizations.

I hope to see you at the Smirkus this summer! :)