Monday, August 21, 2006
jugglebug
It's been a month since the European Juggling Convention took place in the little sleepy town of Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. It wasn't really a convention more than a festival where about two thousand hippie types congregated on the sprawling grounds of the Green Acres Arena to juggle day and night a variety of objects ranging from balls, clubs, pois, devil sticks, diabolos, staffs and even a ladder! There were shows every night, loosely organised workshops during the day, acrobalance in the field, tightrope walking in the school gym, combat juggling in the main hall and all manner of juggling and what-not on the camp ground. There were people from all walks of life (though the dreadlock hippies made the vast majority) and of all ages from six to sixty. It was easy to imagine that jugglers never slept because the main hall was always full of people and their flying objects whether it was 5pm or 5am.
I was rather disappointed that I hadn't got very much out of the week-long convention. What I didn't realise was that I had been bitten by the jugglebug even then and am now manifesting the obsessions of a juggler. It's just a matter of time before I get my dreadlocks.
Being a mere beginner, I was rather intimidated by the freakish feats some of these jugglers were doing -- 5-7 ball juggling with pirouettes thrown in, being one of the most common. I watched in awe and got very little juggling in myself. But by the fourth day, I was emotionally drained from all the excitement and began to feel quite trapped in hippieville. But I rallied on and even joined in the colourful juggling parade on the last day, which took us through the very short main street of Millstr
eet. After six days of juggling, the only trick I took away with me was one called "Mills Mess" which I continued to struggle with for weeks after.
eet. After six days of juggling, the only trick I took away with me was one called "Mills Mess" which I continued to struggle with for weeks after.I was rather disappointed that I hadn't got very much out of the week-long convention. What I didn't realise was that I had been bitten by the jugglebug even then and am now manifesting the obsessions of a juggler. It's just a matter of time before I get my dreadlocks.
