The "Under The Big Top" Story

It was an ordinary day. We were in State College visiting with Jerry and Just Sue for the weekend. When we visit with them they make arrangements for us to do something special as we do when they come to Lancaster to visit with us. Saturday and we are headed to the circus. I hadn't been to the circus for many years so this was going to be a treat. Ringling Bros. Barnun and Bailey Circus. They were going to appear at the Bryce Jordan Center which is the big arena at Penn State University. Beautiful day for a trip to the circus. On Thursday of this week, Jerry went to the local train yard and watched as the Circus Train arrived. It was about a mile long and had approximately 60 cars. This was the "Red" edition of the circus. Ringling has red, blue and gold editions which travel to different parts of the globe. This "Red' edition was called "Over the Top." PT Barnum started "The Greatest Show on Earth" in 1871. In 1891 Barnum died and James Bailey bought the circus from his widow. In 1884 the Ringling Brothers started a small circus and in 1907 bought Barnum and Bailey after James died. This is much the same circus we will see today except with new animals and performers. The "Oldest man on Earth" might be the same performer as they had years ago. We walked around the outside of the arena and saw the elephants, horses and other animals being fed and groomed and then headed into Bryce Jordan for the show. Since the show wasn't going to start for another hour we were allowed down onto the main floor to see and talk to the performers. The clowns were entertaining as were the jugglers and balancing acts. I kind of got separated from the other three and all of a sudden this clown grabs my arm from behind and tells me he needs my help in exchange for a bag of popcorn. OK! Within minutes the spotlight goes to him and he introduces me as his assistant. He has me kneel next to him and he proceeds to clean my head with a spray bottle and a towel. Then he introduces a toilet plunger which is painted blue with a blue and white striped handle. OK! Next he sticks it to my head. Wow! When he pulls on it my head rises. Really good suction. Camera are flashing and I am smiling at the crowd. Then he takes a china plate from his bag and starts to spin it on the top of the plunger. I guess. I can't see it but he tells the crowd about it. Then he has me slowly stand with the spinning plate above my head. Voila!! The crowd applauds, I kneel down again, he tugs on the plunger until it comes off and then gets lost in the crowd. I had my two minutes of fame, but no popcorn!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.