And children of all ages

The Circus is in town!

 For the last few weeks downtown,  a circus called The Big Apple Circus has been setting up right outside my T stop and it's been super fun to watch.

The big top is already up and the ticket window is there but standing empty waiting for opening night this weekend.

I have an incredible fascination with circuses. I love going to them and generally revert back to a five year old child when I'm around a circus (or carnival!) atmosphere. There something so thrilling about the bright lights, the smell of cotton candy, popcorn and sometimes animals. It's so foreign from the activities I engage in everyday

So, needless to say, I was pretty excited when I saw this big top going up. There was a hesitation that's never been there before, though. "Are they going to have big cats, and other large animals?" I wondered. Usually, this would seem exciting to me. Truth be told, though, my perspective has recently changed surrounding circus acts with big game animals. Thanks to Animal Planet (stop laughing). Now, don't worry, I'm not going to start singing Sara McLaughlin's "Angel" and posting pictures of fluffy little lion cubs that needs rescuing from the circus. On the contrary, I've been watching this show Fatal Attractions about people that own large, wild beasts and a lot of them have dealings with the circus or have started a circus with their "pets". A lot of them have also died when their sweet little two-ton elephant loses it and snaps them like a twig. Which has got me thinking: how much danger are we in when we go to the circus? what happens when Leo gets a little agitated and decides to take his mane to meatier pastures. . .aka the front row of spectators?? Is there usually like a net surround the ring? I can't remember.

Even despite this somewhat  unrealistic panic, I still am attracted to the idea of going to the circus, especially seeing it every day on the way to and from work. It doesn't much matter, however, because none of my friends seem to share my enthusiasm.

 I can only assume it's because they also watch exorbitant amounts of Animal Planet and share my new found caution over being in the same space as large, ferocious animals.

hmm, that must be it.

 So for now, I guess I'll just enjoy the circus from afar and, on the bright side, no worries about potentially getting attacked in a tiger act gone awry. Win!