I say for Henry, because for mama, it was a very different story on account of this body of mine. First, we got there at 2:30 so that we'd have time to "meet the elephants" and then walk around on the floor and see the pre-show. It was 105 yesterday and it really wasn't that far of a walk (about 10 blocks) , but any walking for me in this heat feels pretty awful. It was like, yeah yeah, elephants, let's get inside...now.
The pre-show was a big hit. Henry saw clowns, people walking on stilts, acrobats, jugglers, a lady spinning from the ceiling by her hair, etc. There were colorfully uniformed men everywhere yelling circus-y things like, "Lemonade! Popcorn! Peanuts! Coooooooooton Candy!". I kind of got a little verklemt watching Henry react to all the sights and sounds. He was so wide eyed---he'd never seen anything like all those smells and colors and costumes and excitement.
(Henry and daddy are to the right. Justin has on an orange shirt and Henry in red.)
When we sat down he was on his dad's lap and squealing at the clown acting silly--falling down, hitting himself in the face. And then the show started and this parade of white horses and a chain of elephants and clowns on motorcycles and singing and dancing and dogs doing tricks and everywhere you looked on the floor there was something exciting happening. Henry had his fists in the air, bouncing them up and down to the music. He clapped, he laughed, he pointed, and I sneezed. The whole time. I sneezed for over 2 hours straight. I had to get up 3 times to get more napkins. I soaked through 15 napkins in all. My head felt like it was going to explode. I've had 5 very memorable allergy attacks in my life, the 5 that stand out as being the worst I've ever experienced. #1 when I was was 15 years old, in Austria at a horse show in an arena and I had to get up and leave and take the subway back to the hotel by myself. #2 When I was 16 on a school camping trip and went horseback riding with my friends. My face was almost unrecognizable afterwords. #3 The first time I ever spent the night at my in-laws (they have horses). #4 Horseback riding in Mexico. #5 The circus...yesterday...where they had lots and lots of horses.
I wanted to leave so badly and Justin felt very sorry for me but Henry was beside himself with glee. He was without a doubt in my mind having more fun than he's ever had in his 27 months. How could we possibly leave? At intermission we suggested leaving and he got very upset. I got up, got us some ice cream and popcorn and then resigned myself to another hour. Henry had been talking abut tigers since the minute we told him we were going to the circus, so when the tigers came out, it was a big moment. It was really something to see and when they were leaving the center floor Henry turned to us and said, "Let's go home". YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Let's do that, son!
We were there 3 hours. I have no idea how he did it. He was just so fascinated by all those amazing feats that time for him did not exist, I guess. I'm so sad I could not enjoy it with him, but I do not regret going. It was wonderful to see him so happy.
If it would make Henry as happy as yesterday, I would beat the elephants myself.
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