I was walking down the road to the mailbox today and a neighbor in his car asked in a passing motion, “how are you doing, neighbor?” To this quick and loaded question I forced a fake smile and lied, “good, thanks.” Satisfied, he drove off, already busy in another train of thought consisting of errands or meetings he was trying to catch. Why ask this question when it is obvious you cannot stay around to hear the real answer? So many times I want to blurt out, “I feel like crap; my insides want to be on the outside and I sometimes wish to no longer be living.” I suppose they are not publicly acceptable answers to what should be small talk questions but when you think about it, these small talk questions are quite loaded.

Anyway, I’ve become sidetracked from what I originally meant to talk about, the Circus. My husband and I attended Alegría : Cirque du Soleil. It was purely magical. I find that what makes the circus so magical is the ability of the performers and detailed sets to bring the innocent children out of us to play in a land of dreams. A land of dreams where nothing can hurt us, where nothing bad happens and where we can be anything and everything our heart desires. Even if for a short few hours, our minds are open and free. I also think that at some point during the show, each one of us wishes to be part of the event and perhaps takes on that character in our mind to make the performance that more real. For those sick, the circus means even more for those feelings are even stronger. The circus represents a place we all fight each day to get to. One with no fear, no pain and no negativity; only acceptance and beauty in its purest form of love. I love the Circus and greatly anticipate going back for Crique du Soleil’s performance of OVO in Seattle later next year.