Mallory's Camera

JUMP: Lincoln, MO → Rich Hill, MO – School Grounds: 95 miles
LEFT out of the park… LEFT onto HWY 65 SOUTH to Warsaw
Take exit for HWY 7 WEST to Clinton… LEFT onto HWY 13 SOUTH
RIGHT onto HWY 52 WEST and follow it LEFT onto HWY 71 SOUTH
HWY 71 SOUTH to Rich hill… arrows to lot
Shows at 5pm/7:30pm

The Bridgeleys are visiting. Or maybe they’re the Brushleys. If you’re a fan of TLC multiples programming you’ll know who I mean. Missouri family with fourteen kids, pals of America’s Foremost Unicycling Family. Jon and Kate Plus Eight they’re not but I believe TLC has featured them in several documentaries.

“We met them when we were with the Allen Circus,” Wren Gaylynn tells me. “They’d came to the show. And, I mean, they stand out in a crowd even though they only had seven kids back then. Maybe it was eight. So after the show I went out into the audience, got to talkin’ with them, Ron and Rachel. Some of our kids were the same age.

“And then when they got home Ron turned to Rachel and said, ‘I know you’re gonna think I’m crazy but I want to invite those circus folk to dinner.’ So they did.

“But first Ron went to his workshop and he built this huge table just for the occasion. And they made a feast – fried chicken and corn bread and greens and watermelon tea and apple crisp – and at the end of that, we were friends.

“Every year for the past thirteen years no matter where we are they come visit for a few days. Although obviously it’s easiest when we’re in Missouri.”

This morning the patriarch himself stuck his head through the door of the RV. He’s a nice guy, though if I were the National Health Care Czar I’d make him go for a compulsory vasectomy. We chatted for a bit.

“Longest we ever drove to visit our circus friends? Let’s see. One time we drove all the way to Pennsylvania in our old Chevy van – it was a Bonneville just like this here. Not a whole lot of pick up but dependable. Still. It let me know who was the boss on that drive, and it weren’t me. We’d be puttin’ up these hills with these big old trucks breathing fire on our tail. ‘They’re afraid they’re gonna be late to the accident!’ I told Mama. But we got there okay, and so we got to visit with our circus friends and our Amish friends. That was a blessing.

Ben wrinkled his forehead watching him walk away. “Nice guy. Only I could swear they weren’t Mennonites last year.”