THE TRUE STORY OF PUNKIN THE CLOWN

I was born on my birthday (what are the odds??)! The very first  party I remember attending, was my own fifth birthday. It was there I was introduced to angel food cake, which shall be referred to as "sponge cake" from here on out. But I digress.  As soon as the kids started blowing those little horns, I knew that parties were going to be a big part of my life.                                      

While attending Highland Elementary School in Derby, NY (I mention this, because I "gadgiated" from there!), I found a wonderful book called Parties for Children. It was around the third grade when I started borrowing that book. I must have renewed it every month until the sixth grade. There were all kinds of wonderful theme parties within it's pages. But the one most memorable party was a George Washington's birthday party. After much pleading, picking, whining, and being annoying in general, my parents let me throw this great party. Imagine my surprise and disgust when the kids didn't bring ME a gift!!!! Shouldn't somebody be getting gifts in lieu of having President Washington there?

Surprisingly, I wasn't too much into parties in my teen years. Acting goofy monopolized all my time. Just ask my high school teachers!

When my nieces and nephews started having parties, they asked me to help them. The first was a Halloween party where I portrayed Beulah the Witch. It would have been a great introduction, but alas...(wow......did I just use a word like "alas"?? I DO have class!!).......one of the kids saw the jeans under the black witches' dress......it was at that moment, I learned to bluff my way out of a 'situation'.

After several years of this, my sister (manager of a store in the southtowns) was in need of a clown for a big Goodwill Industries Event. She needed someone who didn't mind making a fool of themself. NATURALLY, she called upon me. Dressed in clown for eight hours, makeup melting, (because we weren't sure how to put it on); and taking a ladies' room hostage so we could rest and try to salvage our makeup and costumes, I became hooked.

From that moment on, I did everything I could to learn more about the art of clowning. I attended clown school, took classes on magic, face painting, and balloons; read books, watched videos and eventually became an Erie County Fair Clown. That led me to Buffalo Clown Alley where I served as newsletter editor and secretary.  I also won the SPIRIT and ALICE B AWARDS at BCA. In August of 2007, some clown friends and I organized an internationally chartered alley in the southtowns called the Corn E Clowns of Erie County, where I currently hold the office of vice president. (HEY.....maybe NOW I can throw that George Washington party again and get some gifts!!) I'm also a member of the Clowns of America International, World Clown Association, South Eastern Clown Association, Kidabra, Mid-Atlantic Clown Association, and Buffalo Clown Alley.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Biker Punkin Rides Again!