My Strange Career of Yesteryear
As some readers know, for many years I worked as a professional juggler. It all started with my parents, who were also jugglers. I grew up working in the family juggling act and then after college went on for the next fifteen years as a juggler/show manager for touring theatrical productions.
That all ended around 1990 when I settled into a regular job so to speak. Occasionally my juggling skills would come into play since I was still in a theatrically related business in the Los Angeles area. Any juggling would have been for impromptu demonstrations of equipment we sold or just for fun. I haven't juggled at any length for quite some time, but I still have plenty of juggling props just in case the urge ever hits. I should probably go to one of the busking places in my area and try to juggle for tips to make extra money. Hmmm--nah, I'm not sure about that gig.
Over the years I acquired several books, magazines, and other items that are good additions to my little juggling research library. Before my mother died she gave me books that had been my father's. The juggling books would probably be among the last of my books to go if I were to start clearing out my shelves. They're not especially interesting to read for the most part (though some have pictures), but they might be considered among my more curious collectibles. Keepers for now.
Then there is the Juggling Jackson Gallery of Wall Art--and I use the term very loosely. I have an array of old juggling photos given to my parents over the years. For years those hung on the walls of whatever room in our house we practiced juggling. Also there's the collection of dime-store framed prints of clowns--most who are juggling--that hung all around the house. If something had to do with juggling or reminded my father of juggling then he'd buy it.
We got rid of most of the family props by sending them a juggling museum that I wrote about on my memoir blog. Still I have quite a number of props and other fun items mostly stored away in my garage or closets. This is a collection for which I wish I had a special room set aside. I guess for now I'll just dream about that room and hang on to these personal treasures. It's not clutter to my eyes and it's not junk either.
Are there any tools of your trade that you have hung on to? Have you ever bought a how-to book even though you already knew how to and just wanted the book because you liked the topic? Do you have a special room in your house that is focused on some certain theme?
