Last Saturday I took my daughter to the circus, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth.
It was a great time. A friend of
ours scored a few extra tickets and offered them to us. This friend’s daughter
is a good friend of my little girl, so them being able to spend time together
at such an incredible venue really makes the memories that much more special. I
haven’t been to the circus in about seven years, I actually took my daughter,
but she was only two at the time so I know she remembers nothing of the
experience. And to be honest, as I sat there last Saturday, my thoughts were
not of that last time, but of the time I was nine, going to the greatest show
on earth for the first time.
Ringling Brothers is an amazing show; it’s really a spectacle of light,
motion, color, excitement, sound and fun all rolled into one. As I sat and
watched the show, periodically I turned my attention to my daughter. I saw the
wonder in her eyes, the extreme concentration on all the amazing things the
animals and performers did. The concentration in her eyes and on her face
reminded me of my first time watching the circus. I stared intently at all the
things going on, desperately trying to imprint all of it so I would never
forget, but always be able to revisit that wonder whenever I wanted to by
remembering those visions. I watched as she did the same. Her smiles and shared
laughter with her friend only added to the joy. When I see that type of amazing
joy on my child’s face, I want to make sure it lasts as long as possible.
It should go without saying these times are the ones you want to
remember and cherish. Times like these are ones you want to create over and
over; good times full of great memories and fun, wonder, excitement and joy. We
all know, however, that life isn’t all fun and games. There are darker times
and sadder memories, troubles and pains; the things we find hard to forget. But
I say it’s the times you’re with your children at the circus, or the zoo, or at
the park lying on the grass looking up at a sky so blue it almost hurts your eyes
that help you both get through the hard times. In the end, all we really have
is each other. We should make our time together as wonderful as possible.
Thanks for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome.
