One day last week, a man walked into Latte Fun, the cafe-indoor playground where daughter Megan is working while waiting for her job at Disney to begin in mid-January. The man gave her a free ticket to the Ringling Brothers Circus that will be in town in December.
So the next morning she had another job interview. She had applied for several jobs working with animals and after weeks of delays, suddenly she was getting interviews. First, Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando came through with the interview and internship offer. Then the Palm Beach Zoo called and she interviewed again for the fun of it. Then Sea World called and she interviewed again, this time for a full-time job, not a temporary internship.
Then the morning after she got the free circus ticket, who calls but Ringling Brothers for an interview working with elephants in the Ringling Bros. Circus! The job would start with a three-month internship in Sarasota, where she went to college, then she would go on the road – 95 cities a year, traveling 50 weeks of the year, living on a train.
Her head was spinning after that interview. “I don’t know about that job,” she said. “It would be interesting.”
Damn right, we said. Do it for a year and write a book about traveling with the circus. “Hey, besides, you might meet a nice clown,” Rob added.
But as Megan pointed out, someone had already written the book about elephants and the circus, and the DVD had just arrived from Netflix that day – Water for Elephants. It’s set in a circus in 1931 and if you haven’t seen the movie, do treat yourself to it. You won’t want to ever work in a circus. And we suspect that’s pretty much the conclusion Megan has come to.
But, interestingly, and this could be the synchro, Ringling Brothers is mentioned in the movie and the protagonist spends his first few days there shoveling elephant dung, which is probably what Megan would be doing during the months of the internship.
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Just an aside here. Mike Perry reported that kids in Megan’s age group in the UK are experiencing 25 percent unemployment. We’re not sure of the statistics here in the U.S., but we know the job market is tough for recent college grads – Megan and her friends. If the situation isn’t rectified, then an entire generation may not ever realize the American dream. Or, they bypass the traditional methods and create something entirely new for attaining that dream.
I think for Megan it looks like it never rains but it pours! If I were her age, I might take the circus job for a year, just for the adventure of it all, but I can see how hard it would be as well.
I really appreciated Terry Patrick’s comments about the “American Dream”. I’ve never really understood that idea, because I’ve been in “counter culture” for so much of my life, living in communes, or on the road (not the circus, but with the Renaissance Faires full time). My notion of the American Dream is very far from a two car garage and 4 bedroom house, while our world drowns in unsustainable consumerism. Perhaps, as you suggest, it’s time to create a new “American Dream”, one that might include more sharing, community, ecovillages, and deep connection to life, the earth, and “all our relations”. There are many new “dreams” being birthed………….
Love your concept of the new american dream. I hope it’s where we’re headed, Lauren.
Great that Megan has her job lined up. You write in a comment about how there are ‘some people who are able to manifest jobs quickly’ – how right this is and it’s surely because of the person concerned: their attitude, thought process, positivity and so on. It’s that old Law of Attraction. I don’t know Megan but I bet she will attract lots of goods things in life.
In the UK the animals in circuses have virtually all gone now – so many seemed to have been mistreated to encourage them to do their ‘tricks’. There was one awful video of an elephant being beaten so she would perform. The romance of the circus sounds great but the reality I think is somewhat different.
I do not do circuses that have animals. I like the ones where the people have to do the tricks.
I’m with you. The last time I went to a circus, I got sick and had to leave.
I remember of hearing once how they train elephants not to run away when they get older by playing a mind trick on them.When they are young they chain the elephants back leg with a heavy metal chain,so it can’t run away.Once it gets used to this idea they swap the chain for a rope and the elephant remembers the past associations with the chain and doesn’t even bother to try and break away…even though it easily could.
Isn’t that a symbolic story about the power society wields over our own lives ?
Mental and not metal chains can be the toughest chains that we have to break in our lives.
Great analogy, Daz! Really sad how they “train” elephants.
It’s funny that you mention the clown synchro and Mike Perry in this post,because last night I was commenting at his blog on the “The Dead In Dreams Are Very Real” post he had up, about my one vivid dream where I believe I was contacted by my dead father-in-law.Which led to me later on viewing this You Tube clip;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYJRddhzFG4&feature=player_embedded
about one of the most incredible synchros I had ever heard about,involving Emmett Kelly’s death.He was famous for being the sad clown.
By the way,SQuire Rushnell (the guy that writes the “GodWinks” books) was one of the main guys responsible for puting “America’s Funniest Videos” on the air,and there is some big syncs involved in that story as well,which is mentioned in the book featured in the You Tube clip.
The story about my father-in-law that was published in your book
“Synchronicity and the Other Side” involves “Australia’s Funniest Videos” in a big way.So it’s all like a synchro-domino effect to me.
Also all year I’ve been puting off buying this Sad Clown sculpture
https://www.ronlee.com/emmetts_ride.htm
called “Emmett’s Ride”. But about two weeks ago I finally purchased it and it arrived a few days ago and now sits on my bookshelf.
Here’s another one I found which you might like and is more relevant to this post;
https://www.ronlee.com/my_portrait_ek.htm
I love most of these sculptures and their profound messages:
https://ronlee.com/catalogue/emmett_kelly_collection.htm
Emmet was one of those great artists with the ability to show a picture that was worth more than a thousand words.
I am also one who has been able to manifest jobs quickly so am intrigued that I’m experiencing a delay this time. I believe it is as much my personal picky-ness now as well as how slow and picky employers have become. Megan’s opportunities, and her willingness to consider many, will help her feel good about her choice.
The American dream of a massive middle class between the destitute and the elite is also what spawned consumerism, landfills, and toxic waste. It also spawned huge innovative leaps in technology, medicine, and political lobbies. I’m in awe at my daughters generation and their more conservative and environmentally aware perspective, while they are also determined to be themselves and get a tattoo. I have high hopes for the potentials my grandsons will have and their ability to create something beyond the American dream. It may be time for a global dream where individuals are creators of their destiny.
Whatever job Megan chooses, it feels there will be a personal connection between animals and an audience. I’m sure art will also be a strong flavor. And while I’ve never scooped elephant dung, I will never discredit the potential for art (or story) from that experience. Go forth, young MacGregor! The Force will be with you…
I agree with you on this. The next generation does not have the same desire for all the “stuff.” At least some of them.
Well it’s obvious Megan is not one of those meant to be unemployed!
I’m convinced there are some people who are able to manifest jobs quickly. Megan and my sister are able to do this really well.