The big metal box on wheels wobbles from the rustling of the inhabitants inside. I’m awakened by heavy machinery beeping and clunking outside of my window and I crawl out of bed. Careful not to wake my roommate who sleeps above me, in a groggy stupor, I slip on my hoodie and shoes and make the routine trek across the lot, blinded by the sun’s salutation. Sometimes I can’t decide what’s more inconvenient: getting dressed to walk outside past all the trailers to use a portable toilet...

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For those who don't know, when I was seven years old, I spent about three weeks in a children’s hospital after a gun accident incapacitated me. Seventeen years later, the hospital stay itself is but a distant memory—except one of the parts that I distinctly remember from that time is watching the Disney Pixar movie “A Bug’s Life” nearly every single day. The once-traumatizing “flashbulb memory” of the accident is psychologically associated with that movie. Recently, I came to...

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The last 10 days have been pretty crazy. I started off 2017 by driving from Wisconsin (thanks for letting me couchsurf again Meredith and Dan!!!! <3 ) to South Carolina to pick up Paige and Isaac from South Carolina. I went from -20 degree weather to 75 degree weather in a matter of 24 hours. The drive to SC was brutal; being trapped in a metal box without being able to move around or look away from the road for 15 solid hours felt like a form of torture. Granted, I was able to listen to...

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    One of circuses’ missions is to play on the concept of novelty. “The1^st Official Aquatic Circus in U.S.” is plastered on a few of the Cirque Italia trucks and novelty items are sold by the dozens every show.  The performances are designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, and children especially swim in the ignorance during the clown acts and intermission activities.

    What is it with our brains and the addiction to novelty? Is it something that’s been around since humans ...

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Last weekend was a crazy one for me. I reevaluated my morals, immersed myself in the culture of a circus tribe, worked 28 very sweaty hours in four days, fell in love with a circus performer, changed (slightly) the way I look at myself and humanity, and have (slightly) changed my travel directions.

 Joining the Cirque Italia was a last minute opportunity. I completely ran out of money by the time I hit North Carolina (not to mention going negative from a $180 seatbelt fine…). After hour...

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