#46 - Clowns

​Scary?

Not all kids like clowns. In fact many adults are terrified of the painted smiles on real and toy clowns!

But at age 6, I adored this toy clown. Our family purchased him the year we lived in New York. He provided some amusement, since we 4 kids had left our bikes and toys behind, back in Iowa. Our cramped Staten Island apartment didn't have much space, but there was room for the clown. 

His 2 weighted poles are now gone, but he once used them to balance his unicycle on a wire. The wire stretched across the apartment, above our heads and we took turns pulling down on a cord to watch him cycle back and forth.  Sometimes we yanked too hard and his wheel jumped off the wire. Usually his poles kept him from crashing to the floor. I'm proud to be the sibling who keeps the clown, in his old age.

Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada
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​In February, I celebrated like a 6 year old, at a Nevada motel.  Most of my adult friends are not brave enough to spend a night in such a place, but Don and I are a gutsy team.

The 6 year old in me didn't see the worn carpet or the peeling paint. The 6 year old in me, also refused to fret over the internet write-ups and videos that have given this motel a scary spotlight. 

Meeting Bob
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​The owner Bob couldn't have been nicer. He pointed out his favorite clown, from the massive collection in his office. I showed him my unicycle clown that I had packed, since this had been a planned stop. ​

He was pretty delighted to see my clown shirt as well.  I told him I had been a clown myself once. But my friend, Jenny and I quit the clown business after our first birthday party. Too exhausting! 

Yay for clowns!
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