A few nights ago, we were walking home from a fun evening with the Adkins in Florence (making Pizza and Gelato!), and a street performer (Charlie Chaplin?) started grabbing passers-by and seating them in a large rectangular area around a pedestrian street in the heart of the town. Naturally, Chris was one of the first people he seated. And, naturally, when Mr. Chaplin selected 3 unsuspecting souls to be “onstage” and part of his show, Chris ended up in the spotlight.
The two others were 1) an awkward teenage girl from California, and 2) an awkward middle aged man from England. Neither of them much wanted to be up there. Chris, however, was right in his element.
The 20 minute show had lots of slapstick antics involving a chubby englishman having to stand there with his shirt off, and everyone wearing goofy hats and doing silly movements. Charlie had his helpers blow up balloons, play the air banjo, and he TRIED to get everyone to give him a kiss on the cheek. There were a couple hundred people gathered around, watching the performance!
I can’t post the entire show (plus some of it is PG-13), but here are a couple of fun snippets:
1) Chris is shown how to bow the right way.
2) Chris helps Charlie blow up a balloon.
3) Chris catches right on to doing the Charlie Chaplin wobble.
What a treat, stumbling into an adventure like that! Everyday we are on our trip I pinch myself – wow, we are all so lucky that we get to see all these places and spend so much time together. Not every day includes such unique special memories. Some days we are just tired and a little homesick and can’t find a WC. But sometimes, when we think we are just walking home at the end of a long day, something unexpected and wonderful happens.
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