“Bill, It’s Me!”

"Little Stinky"

A Christmas Remembrance by Patrick O’Connor
(Part of a work in progress titled “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up; The Charmed Life of a Boomer”)

We moved around a bit as our children were growing up, and I was always very cautious about how well the kids would adapt to their new surroundings. I usually would try to find something new and interesting for them to do to enjoy our new place and transition from the previous home.

We had moved to Athens, GA which is a flat-out wonderful place to be. Yet, I wanted something for my kids to do that would help keep their minds off Indiana, Pa where we had just left. I noticed an announcement in the local paper for an organizational meeting for a clown club. All were welcome, the announcement read. A clown club? Hmmm … a clown club. I bet that would get everyone’s mind heading in a new direction.

So, I asked Patrick (10) and Erin (6) if they would like to be clowns and, of course, they were on board instantly. We went to the meeting and met some real nice folks who gave us some ideas regarding the how and why of clowning. They also keyed us in on places we might locate some clown stuff such as clothes, fake noses, make-up, shoes, etc. Really good stuff. These folks were really into it and gave us an appreciation for clowning as an art form rather than just clowning around.

So, off we go and buy a bunch of clown clothes, noses and some make-up. We then went to a few more of the clown club meetings to talk about our ideas related to performing as clowns. One of the most important aspects of proper clown preparation is to select a clown name. We studied this for a bit and no one really came forward with names we liked. Finally, someone said (maybe me?) ….” how about Stinky?” Not exactly sure why but Stinky seemed appropriate and certainly appealed to each of us. The next challenge was deciding who would get to be Stinky since we all liked the name. We kicked around a few other names, but none seemed as good. And, everyone wanted to be Stinky!

Eventually, we decided we could all be a variation of Stinky. So, I became Big Stinky, Patrick became Middle Stinky, and Erin took Little Stinky. We were now the Three Stinkys in the clown club. We worked up a few gags and I did some juggling which I had learned to do while working on my dissertation (that’s another story). We then did some tryout performances with the clown club at local schools and organizations. It was great fun and we all loved it. Patrick and Erin really enjoyed it and they liked telling their friends at school about our clowning around. I think Sue was just glad to have us out of the house from time to time.

One of our first major clown club assignments was to march in the Athens Christmas parade, which is a really big deal. We were extra excited to be rolling out the three Stinky clowns at such a major venue. All was going along just fine. It was a warm, beautiful evening and everyone in and watching the parade were enjoying the holiday. The parade watchers seemed to enjoy seeing three different-sized clowns together and we were having a dandy time waving and generally just goofing around. Then, I looked into the crowd and saw a face I thought I recognized.

I wasn’t sure, but this guy watching the parade looked very much like an old friend of mine from high school. I hadn’t seen this guy in about 20 years! Seriously, I probably did a triple take because I was pretty sure it was him. He was a great guy and good friend, and we spent a lot of time together in high school though we went our separate ways afterward. And, he had one of those faces you remember (apparently). Without giving it much thought, I ran up to him in my clown garb to see if it really was him and said, “Bill… Bill … from Avon, Ohio right?” “Bill, it’s me.”

He stared at me, startled for a few seconds while I repeated my greeting a few more times. “Bill, right? … from Avon, Ohio?!” He couldn’t quite figure out how this clown from the parade knew his name and had singled him out. Finally, after a few more seconds he said yes…sure enough, it was him. But he still had no idea who the clown really was. I think the people around him must have thought this was some kind of clown routine or something.

I hadn’t seen Bill in 20 years and here I run into him at the Christmas parade in Athens, Georgia, dressed as Big Stinky the clown. He continued to look puzzled at this clown calling his name until I said “It’s me, Bill … Pat O’Connor from North Ridgeville … don’t you recognize me?” After a few more bewildering moments and looking more closely at Big Stinky, he figured out what was happening and who was dressed as the clown.

We chatted briefly while all the people around us howled with laughter as I introduced him to Little and Middle Stinky and we met his wife and children. We had to return to the parade route, but I told him I would contact him, which I did. It turned out that Bill, his wife and children had moved there a few years before us. We rekindled our friendship, and our families became friends while we lived in Athens. We laughed about that chance meeting many times. The Three Stinkys continued to perform but that was the only time we left the parade to surprise an old friend!

Epilogue
This event over 30 years ago still warms my heart. When we left Athens to move to Kent, Ohio, we drifted apart again. I often wonder how things have gone for Bill and his family. I still have my Big Stinky gear. Maybe I should dress up again and find a parade to march in. Who knows? Maybe Bill and his family will be watching again.

Photo courtesy of Pat O’Connor