Clown Camp

In about a month I head to clown camp….this will be my 4th year attending.

I know this year will be very emotional because many of these people have texted daily…sent me gifts to make me smile…they have totally been there for me. They have gotten unattractive pictures of radiation burns and lumpectomy scars. They have seen radiation stickers and listened to me whine…they have been my complete “applause” crowd.

Many people will say things like they hate clowns….that’s because you don’t know them. You don’t know the selfless things they do. They put themselves in silly costumes and learn how to do it all in their spare time. They spend countless hours perfecting skills just learned with one goal….to make you smile.

Clown camp is a healing place for all of us. We don’t have to explain wearing crazy socks or clothes….because all of us get feeling extra. If you want to cry for a bit we get that to. If you want to wear a clown nose all day because you need to know if it fits you…we can get behind that. It feeds our creative clown side….we learn from each other. We show our scars to one another. We love each other.

It is a week of fun….laughter….unbelievable hard work. It is exhausting, it is healing….it will push you further then you ever felt you wanted to go. It is magical….

You leave your shyness at the door….because eventually it will stay there anyway because clown camp doesn’t judge….it encourages….

Well, unless Hoot is your teacher….then he will push you further than you ever thought you could go. You will cry…but in the end….you will be so proud of who you are.

My clown friends are my family. They sent encouragement, flowers, countless gifts…and daily texts….they encouraged me not to give up….they were my cheerleaders….

Clown camp can’t come soon enough….but at the same time, I don’t want it to come yet….because this year it will be harder to say goodbye than ever before.