It was a special end of the year celebration at the Christian School for the special needs children. The year was 1969 and my partner and I were enjoying doing fun shows as clowns and watching people laugh. It was not an easy decision to go to the school as my partner had experienced the birth and short life of a Downs syndrome child. Both of us were nervous. We had been clowns many times but this was a new audience that would teach us many things.
I was the wise clown that was able to do things correctly. My bald looking mask sat low on my head and formed into a big red nose with a happy smiling face beneath it. My friend wore the look of a sad-faced clown. Her pointed dunce hat covered her hair, and white make-up around her eyes showed a sad and almost tearful look.
The calliope music cued us into the classroom and we had our fist glimpse of our audience. Lumps came into our throats as we saw our beaming audience, appreciating our colorful, flowered clown suits. Our impulse, as mothers, was to reach out and hug each child, but we couldn’t just then, we were clowns.
We began our routine. I showed my sad-faced friend how I could jump rope. Then she tried, but I held the rope so tight she missed right away, which usually brought other kids to laughter. I could tell by the response that our audience did not think this was funny and felt sorry for the clown.
I quickly changed the tempo and apologized to my clown friend for not holding the rope properly. She instantly caught the message and then tried again and jumped rope while all the kids clapped and cheered. They had understood her frustrations and celebrated her accomplishments. After that, every time my clown friend imitated my trick, she did it right by the second or third time and the children celebrated. We padded each other on the back and frequently gave each other hugs, which pleased the children.
We noticed one boy had his hands over his ears as we danced about the room. Gradually the fear left his face and his hands returned to his lap. We learned later that this was the first time he had stayed in the room where there was noise. Previously he had escaped to another room and into the arms of a teacher.
We passed out red, purple and blue balloons. The children’s main concern was that everyone had one. They could not enjoy their balloon until they knew that to be true. Not one child asked for a particular color, and when tiny Beth broke her balloon, an older lad immediately gave her his balloon. They had an abundance of love and concern for one another.
When our act was over, we left the room with big smiles on our faces but tears in our eyes. We had received much more than we had given. Our clowning was a ministry to glorify Christ.
The following years we were honored to go to the Special Olympics and hand out medals to all the winners as they completed any event they entered. Everyone was a winner. They were free to do whatever they could do.
We were invited to the Ohio State Fair and did a show for the special needs audience, only now the children were adults but they still had the same loving hearts. They wanted the best for the person participating and to laugh and embrace love.
Glade Sun
PATCHES OF LIFE: Clowns that cry
- Glade Sun
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FG First Baptist Church all smiles as their 'ship comes in'
Fairfield Glade First Baptist Church was right in the path of the right-of-way for the new widening project for Peavine Road. With a new site selected and the new church building well under way, on Feb. 6, TDOT officially presented Fairfield Glade First Baptist Church a check for $1,435,550 for their property.
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SMHS Rocket Club visits FG Rotary
Fairfield Glade Rotary Club warmly welcomed eight accomplished Stone Memorial High School students. The members of the SMHS Rocket Club team presented a detailed account of their most recent competition in the Team America Rocketry Challenge National Finals in Washington D.C.
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Dr. Smith to speak Feb. 15 on women's health
William E. Smith, MD, will speak on women’s health on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at a free Community Seminar, in the conference room at the Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Complex in Crossville, at 130 Woodmere Mall, on Hwy. 127. Non members of the facility are welcome.
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Lake Tansi resident wins Holiday Challenge drawing
Betty Smith of Lake Tansi won a six-month membership for the Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Complex at Crossville because she successfully completed a Holiday Challenge to maintain or lose weight from Nov. 24 through Jan. 4.
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Read the latest edition of "The Bulletin"
The Crossville Chronicle-Glade Sun also publishes a newsletter called "The Bulletin" in which you'll find a schedule of Glade activities and events, a restaurant and dining guide, golf information, and even tour schedules. Click here for the latest PDF edition of "The Bulletin."
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Playhouse favorite Daniel Black to appear this Sunday at the Southern Stars Concert
The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass will be presenting their second concert in the Crossville Music Series on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 3:30 p.m. in the beautiful auditorium at Stone Memorial High School.
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Iles is Lions Student of the Month for January
Cumberland County High School senior Dimi Iles has been honored by the Fairfield Glade Lions Club as January “Student of the Month.” She was selected by Guidance Counselor Robin Hull to be so honored by the Lions Club.
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Three musicians join Big Band Sound
Two talented Tennessee Technological University students and a veteran drummer have joined the ranks of the Big Band Sound. They are Kurt Snider, Brant Poindexter and Sarah Ransom.
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Avalon Center asks you to "Let Your Heart Rule" in February
In 2010 Congress began dedicating the entire month of February to Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, a national effort to raise awareness about abuse in youth relationships and promote programs intended to help youth with teen dating violence issues. Throughout February, individuals and many organizations nationwide highlight the need to educate young people about healthy relationships, teach healthy relationship skills and prevent the devastating cycle of abuse.
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ENJOYING NATURE: How ‘fur’ would you go to get a great coat?
I saw in one of the magazines, that I sometimes read, that the Tennessee Fur Harvesters Association was having a fur sale in Crossville. “Fur harvesters” is another word for trappers. Trappers try to catch fur bearing animals like coyote, mink, and beaver for fun and profit. I talked Gary into going with me to see what we could learn.
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