Ringling/Barnum holds a very special place in my heart, because a family friend, Gloria - a widow who loved children - would take me to see the circus whenever they were in town (the Blue Angels too, her deceased husband had been a pilot). I saw Gloria again at her death bed about three years ago, and got to say farewell.
We would have both been satisfied if there were no animal acts; our favorite parts were the clown acts. I absolutely loved the clowns.
