The smile on the young man's face said it all.
He was seated in his wheelchair ringside for Circus Smirkus Monday afternoon in Brattleboro, and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. For all two hours of the show, a smile was plastered on his face, a big smile - ear to ear and pure joy. I kept forgetting to watch the circus, so focused was I on watching this boy.
I was also watching my 2-year-old daughter, who was attending her first circus. She was totally caught up in the fun, too, dancing to the music, digging the clowns and watching the crowd, which she found as interesting as the circus itself. At one point, she asked if she could go into the ring.
She to her wish after the circus had ended, when kids were invited to step into the ring and meet the performers. One of the things that has always struck me about the Circus Smirkus performers is how generous they are with their time and how gracious they are with the fans afterward. These performers are in their teens, chasing their circus dreams and still learning the skills they need for a career in performing. They already seem to have the people skills down.
We also had a chance to meet Troy Wunderle, Circus Smirkus' loveable ringmaster and Cambridgeport resident. There seems to be little difference between Troy's onstage and offstage personalities. He's always upbeat, joyful and full engaged with whoever is in his company. You always feel better in his presence.
I mention all this in part because I'm still in the post-circus glow. My 2-year-old was cramming pretend pies in my face all morning. I also mention this because the circus is staying in town Tuesday for performances in Brattleboro at 2 and 7 p.m., at the Vermont Agricultural Business Center field off Exit 1 of I-91. If you have time, go see it. Even if you don't have time, skip out of work on a sunny summer day and see the circus. There are few pleasures in life that can match that.
All that, and it raises money for KidsPLAYce, too.