IT STILL MAKES ME LAUGH

Once upon a time, about 50 years ago, I was a member of a group of women who “performed” live theater for children who might not ever otherwise experience such a thing.  One year we were performing “The Circus in the Wind.”  We had lion tamers, horses, jugglers! Even a ring master!  And, of course, we had clowns. I was a clown.

One day, prior to our performance, we, the clowns, had enjoyed a nice lunch and a sip of wine or two. We piled into my car and off we went. We were in full clown costume and makeup. 

Before long we realized we were seriously lost. This was way before GPS and cellphones. As we were already quite late, one of the clowns suggested that I ignore all further stop signs and just keep moving.  After all, she said, the show couldn’t go on without us and we were late enough as it was.

It was a good idea until a cop saw us.  His siren was both deafening and troubling.  As soon as I pulled over, the clowns in the back began to cry.  Audibly.  And visibly. Their makeup ran, and their pink-polka-dotted costumes drooped. Their bright red noses fell off.  As did their wigs and their sense of dignity.

I knew I had broken the law by “easing” through stop signs.  What I didn’t know was that I also driving without a proper driver’s license. It was discovered, upon inspection from our officer, that my license was both out-of-state and out-of-date.   

Even, after all the ticketing, warnings, and lectures, our policeman nicely escorted us directly to the school where we were to perform. We later wondered if he did that out of kindness or was it simply his way of making sure nobody else encountered the likes of us? 

We’ll never know.  It also doesn’t matter. The memories are still perfectly wonderful. That’s what matters.