The circus is running away to me next month!

My hospital is holding a reunion next month – for the staff and families who’ve shared the common experience having an infant treated in our Special Care Nursery Unit. Maybe 500 possible attendees, though the planning folk are figuring that 200 is a more realistic number. They decided to make it a party with a circus theme, and they also came up with the bright idea of contacting Circus World Museum up the road in Baraboo. And they agreed to send a little chunk of themselves down to lend a hand, They also put us in touch with performers who worked seasonally at their show, who would be willing to work free or cheap for us.

They’‘ll bring in a bunch of those thin/fat distorting mirrors. A few clowns, no mimes I’m aware of. A couple of carnival-midway-like games for kids. And they hooked us up with TWO types of juggler, a unicyclist juggler and a plate spinning juggler. AND a miniature customized circus train about 30’ long that will run through this diorama they’ll set up. Some other things I haven’t heard about, but no circus animals – the medical people put the nix on having a petting zoo inside the hospital building.

All this, for one day, will completely surround my office. My job is booking space and providing technical support for our in-house conference center where they’ve decided to hold it. I have about two real hours or work to do setting up for the show, but one it gets rolling I have very little to do but schmooze, nosh on finger food, and maybe change a CD once or twice. Most of the day I can just sit back and watch it all happen. Other people will clean up the mess.

I really love my job.

That sounds like fun.

My NICU (both the one where I work and got kiddo #2) has a reunion every year in April. It is usually basically the same every year with a pony ride, petting zoo, fun and games (set up and manned by employees), Radio Disney, and lots of kid friendly foods like PB&J, fruit, cheese, and ice cream sandwiches.

I think 600- 800 people would not be too many as each kid usually brings 2 adults. I believe those are the numbers we get each year. Also, the invite is “open” to any past patients, but you can only get a written invite by attending the previous year’s event.

We haven’t gone for the past 2-3 years, but I think we’ll go this year. My son is 6 this year, but was an almost 24 weeker (23.5) and spent 4 months in the NICU. I work there, too, so I’d like to show his handsome self off this year.

Have fun!