The Greatest Show on Earth!

Not your mother's kind of circus!

When we were growing up, us five kids were frequent attendees of the annual circus when it came to town.  Because both our stepfather and dad liked to give us tickets, (and we never wanted to hurt feelings) we inevitably went twice.  By the time I became a parent, I was pretty much done with the circus and most of the time, let (encouraged?) Aunt Lori take my kids with hers.

Looking closely at the definition of circus, it appears I never have to enter "the big top" again to enjoy (suffer) the antics.  

Back in the 1830's-1860's (no, I wasn't alive then), Dan Rice's circus was first described by an Arkansas paper as the "greatest show on earth".  Most of us will remember Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus using the phrase as a slogan.


Did you know, the word circus derives from Latin circus, which is the romanization of the Greek   κίρκος (kirkos), itself a metathesis of the Homeric Greek κρίκος (krikos), meaning "circle" or "ring".  You can see I did some research on this topic.


Keep in mind, just like many things in our world, that is the old school definition.  Wikipedia describes a circus as a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats,trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, unicyclists  as well as other object manipulation and stunt-oriented artists. 

And every time I read that definition, I no longer think of "circus" in the traditional sense of the word.  

Let's talk about every day life.  How often are we surrounded by a band of "performers"...clowns if you will, even jokers.....(wasn't there a song about that?) that provide a  wide range of reaction on a daily basis.  ADMISSION IS FREE.  Just look around you.  We see some who are walking the "tightrope" and "juggling" so many balls in the air at one time, we wonder if they will finish the "show" without getting hurt.  And sometimes, just like in the old day circus, accidents happen. 

Maybe they (we)  didn't even know we were part of the show!  And the show must go on.

Turn on your TV and social media.  Both are manipulated by the "magicians" that present it to us, different views depending on what you want to hear.  Love those options.  It's just like having three rings going at one time in the old day circus.  

So much to hear, so much to see.  And where is our voice in this?  Do we all play "ringmasters" spouting off to a void that is safe...no popcorn can be thrown here, inciting condemnation over behaviors we are returning in kind?  Do we behave like "animals"?

The circus is in town.  Before taking your "seat" or entering the "ring", identify your exits so you can get out safely, not if but when you need to. 

Thanks goes to Katy for giving me the idea of this topic.  We were talking about things going on in today's world and she said "It's the Greatest Show on Earth".  And we laughed and laughed.  So we wouldn't cry and cry.

Until next time,

#sendintheclowns

#nowaitIamafraidofclowns

your pal,

Kari