Giggles started in my classroom around 1994. I always wore silly hats
and costumes to motivate students in my special education class. On
a really silly day a student piped up and said "Mrs. M, you should
be a clown!"
A few weeks later,
a sweet lady came to our church, sat next to me and told me how much
fun she was having being a volunteer clown! She showed me pictures
of her in costume. I was intrigued! So I went to the meeting she suggested
and the clowns took me in and taught me the clowning basics. A fascinating
happening- the clowns hadn't seen that lady in years, and she never
came back to our church. Coincidence?! I like to think maybe
I have a clown angel!
I
studied hard and clowned under the tutorlage of Bunny, Wishbone, Peppermint
Patty and other volunteer clowns. Many of the ideas I used in
my classroom, and because I worked with special needs students, I
clowned at many events involving special kids!
Later, I also branched out on my own as well, having fun at birthday
parties and face painting at PTA events at our school and church!
I was hooked!
Becoming
a better clown was so important to me, that this summer I went to
Clown Camp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I learned from the Aherns, Don
Burda, Dave Mitchell, Roni and Gigi, Sam Yee, Richard Snowberg and
many other famous clowns who had worked for Ringling Bros. and circuses
around the world. The experience created an even better rounded Giggles!
