[noname]

Hi,

My name is, well, I really don't have a clown name yet. You would think after a couple of years of clowning I would have one, but I have yet to find something that fits me.

Anyway, I got into clowning in a very weird way. I was a seminarian (for those that don't know, that is someone studying to be a Catholic priest) working in a hospital, really depressed by what I saw and having to be there every day during the summer months. When, one day another seminarian informed me there was a former clown working at the hospital. I always wanted to meet one so it was a great experience. I told him how I had been juggling for, at that time, about 10 years, and had done balloons on and off. He quickly took me under his wing and taught me how to do basic balloons, how to bounce juggle, and some basic face painting. I was so uplifted and inspired by the whole thing that I sailed the trusty net for some more information about clowning, when I happened to discover Mooseburger Camp. It was always my dream to go to clown school..well, in this case, camp, but still. So, I emailed Trish, a.k.a. Priscilla Mooseburger and after many emails back and forth, I decided it was my last "free" summer before being ordained a deacon (you need to do that before being ordained a priest) so might as well.

Now, when I got there, I was a little overwhelmed and pretty much decided this was not going to be something I would probably do ever again. Even after I left and, as an early ordination gift Trish made me clown pants, I still never thought I would use it. I was too shy, and though had the heart of a clown, and even a bigger heart of a child, I still would not let him out to play. So, I was pretty content with that, until, after my diaconate ordination when I was assigned to a Catholic Charity Center. I happened to mention to one of the deacons working there that I had gone to clown school (I know it was camp but it sounded cooler calling it school) and he took that as meaning that I was somehow a professional clown. So, he asked me if I would "perform" for their all-day kindergarten class (though I think there were others that were older, not including the teachers and other adults). I agreed though I was scared to death. I had done one thing at camp, learned some stuff for the first time, I was destined to fail.

The day came, I was all painted up, had my juggling balls in my pocket, the magic coloring book in my hand, and walked into class. All of a sudden, something took over, I had a lot of fun, I did everything I never do, and my imagination took control, even with the props, the puppets, etc. I had my first taste of clowning..solo clowning and really liked it. After that I wound up performing for the seminary, for my cousin's daycare class, and the parish I am currently assigned at.

I don't "clown" much but when I do I never have so much in my life. However, one of the promises I had made to Trish before leaving camp was that I would come back one day as a chaplain, which I did last year. I found I had grown, things made more sense, and though I was still reluctant to find my child, he still managed to get out at the important times. I still do shows, mostly for the parish at which I am assigned, but have expressed interest of doing other venues (one of the advantages of being a priest is you have more choices and have more people willing to let you clown)

Anyway, as long as that was, that was the short version of how I got into clowning. I happened to stumble upon this site this evening after looking for information on a book: "Why is that Funny?"

So, that's me. I currently don't have a clown name, still working on it, so you can call me what everyone else does, Fr. Brian

Peace!