In the Beginning...

It all started one cold and rainy night in September of 1984. OK, just kidding, we'll fast forward to 1990 when I was 5 years old. My mama put me in this youth organization called the Peru Amateur Circus. I enjoyed it, so I did it for the next 15 years. (I would have done it longer, but 21 is the age limit...so it was my time to retire) I cannot say enough about the Peru Circus, but I'll do that some other time. Here is the story of circus life after Peru...

Eric Craft was the middle catcher of the flying trapeze act in Peru before I was. When Eric left the Peru Circus, he joined a professional flying trapeze act called "The Flying Pages." When I was too old for the Peru Circus, I loved circus so much that one of my dreams was continuing on by joining a professional circus. However, I was still in college at Indiana Wesleyan University, so when I was 22, I became a trainer in the Peru Circus which I loved every minute of. But, I still had this desire to get away for a while and see the world while performing professionally. God's timing is perfect. I graduated college in December of 2007, one month before Eric was leaving "The Flying Pages," after being with them for 5 years. Perfect timing. The Pages were looking for a middle catcher, and I told them I would like a shot at the position. I tried out with them at a fair in Michigan in August of 2007, and also in Springfield, MA, in September of 2007. During my second tryout, they told me I got the job! Very exciting news. Soooo....that's how it all started. In January of 2008, I went to Myakka City, Florida to start training with the troupe. Three weeks later, we were on the road.

The initial plan with "The Flying Pages" involves 2 or 3 years with the troupe. In 2008, we are touring the United States. In the next couple of years, there have been talks of performing in either Europe or Japan.
After my 2 or 3 year commitment, I plan on returning to Miami County, finding a teaching position at one of the county schools and training in the Peru Amateur Circus...some people think that sounds crazy, but to me it sounds like the perfect life.