Thursday the 21st of April, my 6th birthday. A day indelibly etched on my brain. It was the day that I received 2 tickets to go to the circus with my friend Susan.
On the morning of that momentous day I was bubbling with anticipation at what my gift would be. My curiosity was soon satisfied when I opened my birthday card and discovered the tickets.
That was the beginning of an arduous but long and exciting journey that led me all over the world.
It was on that day that I discovered the wonderful world of the trapeze. It took a great deal of cajoling and crying to persuade my family that performing on the trapeze was where my destiny lay.
I accepted the sacrifices to be made, the hours, days, months and years of relentless practice, along with the endurance of the pain to be worked through.
At last, and after years of hard work the day arrived, I was the star attraction at THE BARNUM AND BAILY CIRCUS. I soared fearlessly through the air defying gravity with jumps, spins and somersaults, feeling a sense of euphoria and an exhilarating freedom flow through my being, forgetting the hours of exhaustion and pain endured to achieve this. I responded to the adulation of my audiences. These feelings remained with me through all my performances. Meeting my audiences, the young often shared their dreams with me. This was what I had worked so hard for over all these years.
Eventually the time moved on, the body slowly defied my commands and after long sleepless hours pondering my future, I had to accept that my career on the trapeze was over, no more thrills. I thought that this was the end.
Then a new beginning arrived, a new journey lay ahead. His name is Joseph. I was invited to a local school to talk to the children about my career and how I had achieved my aspirations. Joseph was the form teacher and, we had an immediate affinity, and at the end of my talk he invited me to have a coffee with him. The relationship slowly progressed and blossomed, and eventually led to a permanent partnership. I have learnt that the thrills of my former life are no longer important, it has been replaced by love and contentment, which I hope to share with Joseph for many years before this episode in our lives comes to an end.
