Just Jules Confessions: I was a Child Clown

I know what you're all thinking....."We already know that!" but do you really know? I don't think you do know at all. I may be a silly,crazy, odd lady but I really was a child clown. I had a clown name, costume and even was a member of a clown troupe.

During the summer of 1986 Disneyland put on a event called Circus Fantasy while my sister Kim was working there. Our family went to Disneyland quite often during that event to enjoy the world class circus acts. My sister Carrie and I particularly enjoyed the clown face painting.

Age 10, Circus Fantasy 1986. I was going through a bad hair phase

Via my sister's job at Disneyland our family was introduced to a man named Diego "Veekay" Barqinero. Veekay was a professional clown who was working at Disneyland and clowning on the side. He invited my sister to do a couple of clown gigs with him which ended up with her joining his clown troupe.

Somehow along the way Diego invited me to join them in their clown troupe to do parades. Every Saturday morning for the better part of two years, I woke up and painted my face, put on a wig and marched in parades with Diego and his clown troupe. My clown name was Punky the clown and I enjoyed hiding behind the make up and goofing around. I loved when we went to parades and won trophies, often because I was the youngest they would me take them home. I even marched in the famed Hollywood Christmas Parade one Christmas. 

Left to Right, Kim as a clown, Carrie, Mom, Me as Punky the clown, Veekay, My Dad and Christopher circa 1987

Through the group I had a professionally made costume and even shopped at Under The Big Top, a boutique in Placentia just for clowns! It was serious business. I look back with fond memories on those Saturday mornings driving off with Diego to a new adventure. I remember picking up a couple of young girls with Cystic Fibrosis who enjoyed the escape as much as I did. Diego was truly a nice man with good intentions and I feel lucky to have had this experience.

I hit my tween years and grew embarrassed by my clowning. I outgrew my costume, lost touch with Veekay and buried my clown past. In fact, I think less than a quarter of the people in my life know about my clowning days since I never speak of it. A few months ago my mom handed me a envelope of pictures and in it were these gems from those days. Immediately I knew that it was time to share my past as a clown and give you all a smile since that is what clowns do!

A few years ago I exchanged a few emails and Christmas cards with Diego. He went on to spend many years traveling with Circus Vargas and making quite the name for himself. As I was researching this blog I even found a IMDB page for him. Glad to know he has done well and found success. 

Now you know about my secret life as a clown just another facet in the amazing life I have been blessed to lead. People often ask, "How do these things happen to you?" I really have no clue but I do know that I am greatly blessed.

A/N Diego has a couple of websites. You should check them out:

http://www.zootsuitclown.com

http://www.facebook.com/veekaytheclown