Circus Life!
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
March 8, 2007 2:48pm CST
I ran away from home when I was a young child. I joined a carnival for a bit then went to Florida & ended up with a traveling circus which shall remain unnamed. Anyhow I just wanted to say a few things about the fun & all I enjoyed & experienced as a "circus flunky" of sorts. I had worked with all the animals in every aspect of the Circus life. I fed them, bathed them, cleaned their cages, trained them, walked them etc. If it had to be done I was there. The pay wasn't great but I did get to see many States in my endeavors with them. The large cats, lions, tigers, leopards etc are basically like HUGE pet cats. They purr and strive for a lot of attention. They loved being petted & groomed. Feeding them was an experience that I'll never forget. This may upset some members but they were fed mostly horse meat & other donated animals. These were usually donated by vets in the area we were at. So it isn't like the circus killed them. To see a large cat of this such tear into the meat was a sight I'll never forget. It's indescribable actually. The horses were like any other horse. I'd ride one into town ever so often to get some food for me & other people. The elephants are hilarious to watch doing anything daily. Especially playing in the water. There were many other animals I took care of. As I child I was in 7th heaven. This was one of the most memorable times in my life to say the least. I may have led a rough life growing up but it was my choice & to this day I don't nor never will regret it. Thanks for allowing me to babble on. I could go on more but thanks again. Maybe I'll start another discussion dealing with the people of the circus another day.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
10 people like this
22 responses
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Between the Carnivals I was in & the Circus I think I saw maybe 45 or so States. Thanks for the response also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
13 Mar 07
Now they're trying to ban circuses in Minnesota with animals. Grrrrr.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Nice response. Thanks anyhow. Have to say this is the worst I've yet to recieve. You still get a positive rate though either way.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
9 Mar 07
Well I am not a fan of the circus at all - I don't like the treatment of wild animals that goes on in them - or at least used to years ago, but I am glad that you enjoyed your time, and have such memories, and experiences to look back on. Life is far too short, and I always think it best to do, and see as much as possible during the short time we have on earth. At least you will not look back and say " I wish I had done that....."!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
5 Apr 07
tHE ANIMALS ARE AND WERE TREATED VERY WELL.
The whips etc are used as a training method.
Now a lot of Circuses use prods with hooks which I feel are wrong.
Thanks for the response.
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Is there anything that you haven't done, Grandpa Bob? I think you ought to write a book. Like others, I would also like to hear more of these memories.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 07
There is a LOT I have done. Basically I lived a long rough life since being 10 actually. Maybe someday I'll add another chapter of my life. It's a strange yet fun life to say the least. Thanks for wanting to hear more. All of you. I really feel loved. Or honored. You can send you cash donations to Grandpabob.com HAHAHA
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
1 person likes this
@magaw2tnk (103)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Another good story about your life thank-you. I use to go to the circus when I was a kid. I also took my kids to the circus, didn't seem the same though hahahaha.
The comment left about runaway kids being a coward ect was way off I believe. Sure this day and age maybe but, back then you ran off and worked. Nice to know the animals were treated well by some, and respected.
I loved the picture of the baby elephant to cute. To this day my daughter loves zoo's, and so do her babies. I like your stories they do bring back fond memories when I was growing up.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
10 Mar 07
Yes that comment was out of line and YES I did rate it a big MINUS. Sorry Im no coward etc. That individual spoke up not knowing WHY I ran away. Thanks magaW2TNK for being the first to comment along this line also. Its highly appreciated from me.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
1 person likes this
@laurabeth (145)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Great story! I love to hear of storys from years ago, what life was like, and how different things were. Thanks!
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
9 Mar 07
This is a wonderful story Bob. To hear about your life as a much younger person, and to hear about circuses from a person who really worked in them.
My daughter loves circuses. Mainly this is due to the animals. I am not really into the clowns and silly stuff.
There has been much opposition to circuses over the years.
In my mind, the animals look very healthy and well cared for.
It may be that are encouraged to perform unnatural tricks, but they are rewarded for this, not punished.
Last year a circus came to town that had two elephants. My daughter was so excited. She had never seen an elephant in real life. Our zoo doesn't keep elephants anymore, as the area isn't big enough.
There was some opposition to allowing the elephants, and thus, the circus being there, but it gave my daughter the opportunity to see an elephant that she would otherwise not have seen.
Thank you for your great discussions.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Back in the 60's when I was with the circus is when the animals were treated not so nicely. I changed that a lot with the company I worked for as I showed a lot of love & caring for all the creatures. I took a lot of gruff but I managed & they did also meaning the owners. Thanks & heres a pic for you daughter.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Wow, neat, I have always heard kids say they were going to run away and join the circus, not sure if it was in real life or the movies, but now I can say, I know of someone who did it.
It sounds like it was a great life experience for you, and that is wonderful that you look back on it so fondly.
How old were you?
Thanks for sharing!
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 07
I was 14 when I worked for the circus. I got a semi education while traveling. Kind of like home schooling. LOL Call it "circus schooling?"
1 person likes this
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
9 Mar 07
Grandpa Bob, I find this subject very interesting and would love to hear more. Please do continue on this subject.
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
9 Mar 07
I have always wondered how it is to join a circus and the life of those who are involved in it. It seems so far off from the normal life that I have. I find it so interesting and I bet it's one of those times in your life that you could simply never forget. Goo posting to you Grandpa Bob!
2 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
9 Mar 07
I once read a pocketbook about the life inside the circus. And what you described here correlated with what I read. Circus life is quite colorful but lots of hardwork and discipline are needed. Though I haven't read anything about those "food" their eating. The animals are another site that greatly contribute to the success of the circus life. Please do share some more of your colorful life.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Now days they are fed a mixture of meat, meat byproducts, with soy and veggies added. They get the meat from processing plants I believe. The hours are horrendous. I usually worked from 5 a.m. till 1 a.m. I did that for too many years. I guess that's one reason I can stay up so long now days. More than 5 hours sleep & I'm over tired. Thanks for the response.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
1 person likes this
@AnnaB87 (761)
• United States
9 Mar 07
I had a couple of relatives that ran away and joined the carnival.
Did you ever return home? Or just stay with the carnival?
I think that from what I have heard that even though you may have had a lot of interesting experiences your life was more difficult than others, just because of all the travelling and work you did.
JMO
2 people like this
@Gabrielle1609 (278)
• Singapore
9 Mar 07
about circuses, i like everything about them except the clowns... they kinda spook me out...
2 people like this
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I think this was be awesome to be able to do for at least one year. I think I would enjoy the Circus more than the carnival. The Circus would be fascinating and to be that close to the big animals had to be great! The carnival people always scared me, but that was because they were rougher than I was brought up to be and they were always trying to get me to gamble. Circus people never bothered me so much though.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Isn't it amazing how things can be so special, even when they started out being not so great? Obviously your reasoning for even joining the circus had to of been one of nothing "good" but as a means of escape. Yet you made the best of this time and shared in some very unique moments.
Thanks for sharing with us! You've lived a life that some of us dreamed of as kids.... aka the famous lines "I'm going to run away and join the circus". You actually did it! LOL
1 person likes this
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
9 Mar 07
Thanks for this beautiful discussion. You made me remember a story fromone of the greatest writers of our country. It too was about circus life, but not from a worker but a tiger. But it was not all about the circus, so now I look upon you to tell me more about there;) I too like elephants much, but not in a circus....
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I loved bathing the elephnats. Especially those huge ears. HAHA!!
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I read your first and second page of the life in the circus/carnival. You said you don't regret it and that's great but I can only imagine it was more fun as a teenager than it would be today. You indicated the pay wasn't the best and that's a shame because there's a lot of money spent in these places and it sounds to me like you certainly earned every dime you made. Finding that 100.00 was a bonus !!! It's always interesting to hear the life and times of other people. I enjoyed these posts.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Thanks grandma of 2. Ill be doing more along my life in th circus & or carnival. Im getting around soon to the friends list also. LOL
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!
@whymrhymer (26)
• United States
12 Mar 07
Grandpa Bob,
Yes that certainly does answer my questions (after reading your second post first)!
Wow! What a life for a young teenager -- I admire your courage and, at least in a way, wish I had been that gutsy as a kid.
I'm going to try and keep an eye out for your third installment in this story (if you write it).
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I wiosh to thank you for going back & reading the other post. It wasnt gutsy actually. It was just survival for me. Thanks for the responses also.
