Isn't this so sweet?

I recently received an email solicitation from Easter Seals that I couldn't ignore. I know everybody and their dog is trying to get charity money, but I thought this one was so touching: Send Christian to the Circus!

Christian attends the Easter Seals Child Development Center in Washington, DC. A genetic disorder has made it impossible for Christian to advance cognitively beyond the equivalent of six months, but has not slowed his social and emotional growth. He responds positively to touch, sound and light, and dances and sings with great joy whenever he hears music.

Imagine how Christian would enjoy attending a circus! Unfortunately, because of his multiple disabilities, Christian and his family cannot easily access many of the recreational activities most children take for granted. The Little Stars...Bright Hope Campaign provides a night of fun specifically devoted to children like Christian.

Oh, it could make me cry, all those little kids that don't get to be like everyone else. Of course they should get to go to the circus! I remember going to the El Riad Shrine Circus with my family and the Raves with our tickets from the Shriners. It was SO much fun, I remember ordering our tickets at school, all of them donated by the El Riad Shrine, and trying to remember to bring them home (especially since I was the oldest and had the responsibility). And then getting to go to the Arena, which was a big deal - when we were kids, that was the only reason we went! And then there we got to have hot dogs and cotton candy and Mom let us get those fiber optic blinking circus toys that would break at school the next day, and the sparkly batons with the rainbow tassles. And of course seeing the elephants and tigers and tightrope walkers and trapeze...

I remember it so well, it was such a fun, sweet part of my childhood. It breaks my heart to think some kids don't get to go to the circus with their families like that. I thought it was so nice that Easter Seals organized a special night for these little kids. I know there are a million things in the world to donate money to, but this one really struck me, I thought maybe you guys would want to see it, too. :-)

Knowing how kids feel about clowns, I'm not so sure this little boy is laughing...! But maybe a clown phobia is a necessary part of growing up, too.