Here is newly unearthed proof that I am not a liar. This time. In my parents’ basement bookcase of years and years worth of incriminating evidence against me, I found photos of my first and only official Circus performance. The 24 years since have just been three rings of amateur acts, but just as entertaining and clownish nonetheless.
I hate clowns.
Enjoy.

Christmas, 1984. It was an adult size, smallest available. That's the last time I've worn that size, I think. My mother said laughingly something about how I didn't quite fill out the bodice. Um, no.

Spring, 1985. Sasquatch. How wide is a balance beam? If you double that, you get my shoe size.

I wasn't too far off with the 300% guesstimate. I hate numbers.

Yo Mama.
For the original story behind what I’m not lying about, click here.

18 comments
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October 17, 2009 at 11:06 am
Shirls
I LOVE the photos…thanks for sharing. I recognize Ann standing next to you…others not so much
October 17, 2009 at 11:26 am
Carson
No wonder we get along so well. I was that totally massive kid at my school. Years ahead in height and other areas of development, not talking math skills either. The pictures are great, and you look way more beautiful than all those mini kids, can’t even pick them out of the crowd…sorry Leah
October 17, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Shirls
I look again BUT it makes a difference when you knew them (well) at the age the photo was taken at too! Had I been there, I could named most of them
your mom did a fantastic job BTW
October 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Carrie H.
Great pics! You look great! I think those costumes are hilarious…I wonder if they are still around?! Your teacher…what a hottie!
October 17, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Shirls
Oh now you post names! Now i”ll have to look and read
Thanks!
October 17, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Dianne Faw
I’m glad that your mom had you in tights and not striped athletic socks, for goodness sakes! It is a lovely costume!
October 19, 2009 at 8:39 am
Pamela S
The lion head on the top row. We played with that thing at home all the time. I agree with Carrie H…hot teacher.
October 23, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Pamela S
I showed your music teacher her picture and she wants to know if you remember being an elf? Picture to follow….
October 23, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Andy Lien
Oh, no. A Holly Boy. Help.
November 3, 2009 at 1:53 pm
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October 17, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Andy Lien
Shirley–you’re FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK with over half the people in that photo. Try harder!
October 17, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Andy Lien
Hilarious. I mean, I knew we were kindred spirits…except for that you were one of those mean “Purple Tops.” What’s funny is that Leah’s not in the picture as she didn’t move to our school until 3rd grade or so. Heh. You’re totally correct in recognizing nobody!
October 17, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Andy Lien
Okay, I did the math, you’re friends with, like, 2/6 of the people in that picture. I hate math.
October 17, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Andy Lien
Top row, L to R: Jeremy L., Roddy M., Joe B., Dan R., ?, Nathan D., ?, Karl H., Chad B., Chad A.
Middle row, L to R: Harmony H., Stacie L., Amy E., Ali P., Me, Ann D., Maria S., ?, Amy M.
Front Row, L to R: Becky K., Chris H., Jackie R., Jessica H., ?, Sharayla C.
Foreground, L to R: Calla L., Alisha A.
October 17, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Andy Lien
If you think the teacher was hot, you should see her daughters!
October 17, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Andy Lien
The beautiful girl next to me in the striped socks is my childhood best friend, Ann. Smart, beautiful, and not petite…no wonder we were friends. And, she rocked the socks.
Seriously, though, I look at all the costumes and how there weren’t enough for everyone. In other pictures, I see that they seemed to be fairly equitably spread out for the different girls but too few is too few. Everyone else had to figure out their own. Then, when I think about how there’s so little time in a mother’s (father’s) life to do something like put together a costume for a circus, wow. We all looked fabulous.
October 17, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Andy Lien
Oh, THANK YOU! My mother made a masterpiece.
October 20, 2009 at 9:05 am
Andy Lien
I’m jealous about the lion head bit. No fair. Okay, I’m over it.