Clowning Around

 

Clowns are interesting people. I remember being a bit overwhelmed by them when I went to the Ringling Brothers circus the first time with my Dad. Their brightly painted, distorted-featured faces and outlandish costumes were fine at a distance, but when they approached closely, I remember snuggling against Dad.

My second favorite clown as a kid was Bozo. He was a local clown on WBZ/Channel 4 in Boston and his show aired live every weekday afternoon at 5pm (just before the Mickey Mouse Club). I never missed him. I liked Clarabel on the Howdy Doody Show, too, but who didn't. He didn't say much, but then clowns didn't have to.

There are several famous clowns: Pagliacci's clown, Emmett Kelly (the world's saddest clown), Ronald McDonald, of course, and who can forget Pennywise in Stephen King's novel, It (even though you'd like to). I particularly like clown fish … very colorful …. and I always liked Judy Collins singing Send in the Clowns.

Rodeo clowns are not only interesting, but they're pretty daring. As the agitated, angry bulls charge and gore their way around the arena, and broncos rear and stomp, these guys taunt them, keep them distracted and jump inside barrels or climb walls to stay out of harm's way. Not my idea of a fun job.

It's my Dad's birthday today. He died long ago, but his image and antics remain firmly and sweetly engraved in my memory. My Dad was a funny man. He was a joker and a comic. He loved to make people laugh. He was the New Year's baby at a party one year, complete with diaper and New Year's banner. He dressed in drag a few times to the delight of his fellow party-goers. He even painted on a white face and an over-exaggerated smile and became a real clown sometimes, my favorite clown. He entertained at kid's parties and Christmas parties. He enjoyed being a clown as much as the kids enjoyed him. My little sister would watch in amazement as he applied his make-up and was transformed from her Daddy into Jeep the Clown, right in front of her eyes … and then scream in fear. At age 3, she was not a clown daddy fan.

So we raise a toast to my dad, Norman, tonight. Hope he's keeping busy, clowning around up there and keeping them all laughing.

Catching Up with Nine of Cups and the Crew

You're probably wondering what's become of Nine of Cups and her crew. We're doing a lot of writing, reminiscing, off-the-wall blog posts and Blue Views, but we're not doing much traveling or sailing lately. It looks as if this trend might continue for awhile. Our time in the States has been fraught with emergency, tragedy, sadness and just plain bad luck. Or perhaps, all that good luck we've had for the past decade is now looking for some pay-back. In a nutshell ...

Marcie came home last February from South Australia to Boston to take care of her ailing mom (86). We didn't think she'd make it out of the hospital with her diagnosis of congestive heart failure, but she did. She recouped, had a relapse due to COPD in April and, while in hospital, fell and broke her hip. We've muddled through surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation process with her. She continues to do well, but is unable to live alone. David finally joined Marcie in April and we are living with Bea in her 2-bedroom apartment not far from Boston.

Midst this turmoil, David's mom (95) was hospitalized and he planned to head out to help her in Las Vegas when she returned home. However, our daughter, Casey, died unexpectedly at that same time in mid-May, leaving four kids, our grandchildren, behind. Things are settling down to whatever normalcy they can, but all of our lives have been thrown upside-down. It's not the end of the world; it just seems like it some time.

Our niece took David's place in Las Vegas to help out her grandmother and mom. But it's not over yet, it seems. We received word that David's sister, sole caregiver for his mom, fell and broke three ribs the other night. David left for Las Vegas on the first available flight and has stayed until Mary recuperates a bit, helping out where he can. He'll return to Boston and Marcie soon. What's next? Lord only knows, but we hope things will begin to turn around soon. Our son has dubbed this “the Spring of eternal suckitude”. We tend to agree.

David plans to return to South Australia in mid-July to check on Nine of Cups and finish up the refrig/galley project. Cups will be complaining about her abandonment soon and David needs to give her a little TLC.

We are fortunate to have a strong family and a good support network to help us through. We've received countless words of condolence and consolation from friends, family, and readers, some of whom we've never even met. These bad times, too, shall pass. We look forward to returning to Nine of Cups and resuming our life of sailing … when the rough seas calm down.

Casey

A few days ago our daughter died. No warning … she just left us and our hearts are sad and empty. This is not the way things are supposed to go. Children do not die before their parents. Parents do not make funeral arrangements for their children. Casey Erin Lynn was 37 years old. She was a beautiful woman. Not just because she was our daughter … she was beautiful by anyone's standards. She had four children and she loved them dearly … C.J. (19), Taylor (17), Coleman (10) and Dylan (8), our grandchildren and for them, or us, life will never be the same.

She loved fun clothes, shoes, funky hats and getting dressed up in bizarre costumes for Hallowe'en. She was a spiritual person. She liked to write poetry. She was creative. She was taking courses in interior design and was proud of her progress. “Imagine! Dream of what could be.” This was her mantra. And now she is gone.

Goodbye, Casey. We love you. We dream of what could have been.