10 Reasons Why Today Was Awesome.

I AM FILLED WITH HAPPINESS AT THIS MOMENT!! My cheeks are hot and flushed even though it's night and I'm writing this almost in the dark, but I had such a wonderful day, I knew this day would come if I just stuck it out and didn't let the little stuff get me down, and I DID and IT DID and I am relishing in it, yessssssss. But I'll start from the beginning or else this will be a tangent post with no coherence at all.

There are many things that made this day great. First and most importantly, it was sunny! Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 100! (because greatness is measured in the 100's)

In the morning Julius was here with his mother and we had breakfast together, and he has really warmed to me and although he has yet to crawl in my lap, he loves it when I stick my tongue at him and loves pressing the buttons in his books that make noise and always looks at me with glee when we hear the cow say "moo" or the train roaring by. It's actually quite hilarious, but I don't think Bernhard, Barbara OR Julius's mom have noticed that I stick my tongue out at him a lot and make funny faces. Usually the taco, he seems to like that. Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 200!

THEN I headed downtown on my usual escapade, but instead of going to the stupid university building and being sent to yet another person to talk about guest student registration, I took the tram a couple stops further than usual and walked back towards the river, exploring. And joy of joys, I found a children's toy store, with CIRCUS EQUIPMENT! Hurrah! Diabolos, juggling balls, spinning plates, rings, clubs, ribbons, all there before my eyes in dazzling colors, I smiled because now I know I will not have to go without. Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 300!


THEN since I didn't have anything official to do, I decided to walk down to the river and juggle. I did this the other afternoon too, for 2 hours, and within those two hours I achieved my first juggling trick, the rainbow toss over the cascade (with the right hand). YAY. As I was walking down to my favorite spot to practice by the kids area, I saw a young couple walking a slack line. About a dozen voices in my head went off, of all the people who love me and have always encouraged me, saying "Don't be shy! Go and ask if you can join! You'll regret it if you don't!". Normally, I wouldn't do this. But I swallowed my fears and I approached them, asking if they spoke English which of course they did, and  they invited me to try. I did and I totally sucked, I think I only got about 4 steps total, but sucking at a skill doesn't bother me all that much anymore because I have to expect to suck in the beginning. What was more important to me than actually walking the slack line was having the courage to approach total strangers and try to make a connection. And I succeeded, whoohoo! We hung around taking turns and chatting for about 15 minutes before the call of juggling was too great, and I merrily went on my way.  Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 500!

THEN, I arrived at the kids park and started my juggling practice. My goal was to perfect my right hand rainbow, and get started working on my left handed rainbow. While I was practicing many children stopped and watched, or came up close and stared, or asked their parents what I was doing, and two very sweet kids even came over to me and started talking to me directly. They asked what I was doing and I told them "juggling!", and I invited them to try. I only had 3 balls with me, so we each took one and practiced tossing from one hand to the other. They got that pretty easily. Then I had my third ball and said they would have to share it, taking turns trying with 2. They were very good little children and shared the balls nicely, but two balls is a lot harder than one. They were troopers though, and after a bit of tossing they returned them and went back to their game with a big orange ball, but they stayed close and the little boy took spectacular dives onto his side and knees as they played one on one soccer. When their mothers came to get them they said goodbye to me, and I told them I would be back with more juggling balls next time. I taught children circus today. Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 600!

AND I got the left handed rainbow! Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 700!

As 6 o'clock approached, I reflected on the encounters I had with the half dozen children that got close enough for me to wave or say hello to, or play with. If I had more equipment, it would be easy for me to invite more children to play with me and perhaps even teach something and pass along the circus bug. The area where I was practicing was perfect. Right in between the children's play structure and a sand pit, but not encroaching on anyone's space. And now I had access to equipment thanks to the store I found! How easy would it be for me to buy a couple sets of juggling balls, a couple ribbons, and a couple spinning plates, lay out a blanket and invite children to come learn if they were curious? It would be fantastically easy! Once a week, I could go to the park as Delilah and give little mini lessons. It would be fun in summer and since the banks of the river are public property, I am allowed to do whatever the hell I want there as long as I'm not charging money, I'm not getting in anyone's way, or causing havoc. So the seed has been planted. It is just an idea right now, of course. But I cannot deny how infinitely happy it would make me to still get to teach circus, even on a teeny weeny scale. Who knows? But I like this idea. Cha-Ching!
Greatness score: 800!

And last but not least, I saw a beautiful sunset on the bridge over the Nekar river with a blood red sun, and came home to a hot meal with a warm and optimistic soul :). Cha-ching and CHA-CHING!
Greatness score: 1000!!!

This is the balcony in the top floor of Barbara's house, currently my living space.