#p.t.barnum

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Stalin biographer and world historian Stephen Kotkin (Stanford, ex-Princeton) has an A+ take on the notion that Trump is “not who we are.” https://foreignaffairs.com/united-states/trump-and-future-american-power-stephen-kotkin

[askbarnum]

Does Phillip have any secret hobbies?

I'm not sure whether you'd class it as a hobby...or particularly secret for that matter. But a lesser known habit of his is his collection of pinecones.

Occasionally at the office I would put on my jacket and find a pinecone in the pocket. I never really thought much of it outside of that it could be a prank from someone in the troupe, or perhaps something one of my girls had given me to hold onto that I'd simply forgotten to give back.

It was only when I was bunking with Phillip for a period of time that I found out he was the culprit. I was rummaging through his drawers one morning in hopes of stealing a pair of socks, as my last pair had just torn a hole, when I found an entire drawer full of pinecones.

When I asked about it he only shrugged and bashfully claimed he finds them interesting.

I've noticed consistently since that he almost unconsciously picks them up occasionally when we are out together and seems visually excited when he finds a large one.

Admittedly I find it a bit bizarre and don't understand it at all. Though I can't deny it's... rather endearing.

[my-bad-writing-requested-edition]

Being the youngest performer at Barnum’s

When you saw the flyer you were wary but hopeful that there was a place that would accept you

Barnum was surprised to see a kid show up, but when he saw your abilities, he knew that this would benefit both of you

You were a few years older than his daughters so he pretty much saw you as one

You immediately got along with the others, Anne & W.D. took you under their wing from the start

When Phillip joined he was shocked and confused that someone of your age participated in the circus

You saw the bond between Phillip & Anne from the start, doing your best to appease W.D. when he found out

The rioters at first claimed you were being manipulated by your fellow performers

When they realized you actually liked being a member of the circus, they became even crueler towards you

Devil Spawn & Witch were some of the kinder names they called you

If your makeshift family didn’t want to fight them before, they were thirsty for blood now (You were a kid!)

They all saw their younger selves in you & always looked after you

When the building burned down, they made sure you were one of the first out & safe

You were devastated when Phillip ran in for Anne only for her to come out from the back

The relief you felt when everyone survived was a weight off your shoulders

When Barnum decided to continue with the use of tents, you followed

They were an odd family (not for their appearances & abilities) but they were the best one you could ask for

[mejoresfrasesyescenasdelcineytv]

Escena de la película El Gran Showman ^^ ^^ ^^

[basilbrush]

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/603776127/the-greatest-showman-cross-stitch-pdf?ref=listing_published_alert

A PDF pattern to make your own ‘The Greatest Showman’ cross stitch.

The Greatest Showman fan art.

[askbarnum]

How many marshmallows can you stuff in your mouth at once?

I've admittedly never tried to fit more than one in my mouth at once. They're rather large and expensive and I usually only purchase them when preparing for long carraige journeys.

I suspect if needed to for whatever reason I could probably fit at least six in there if I squashed them. I do have a rather large mouth.

[askbarnum]

Do you have any go-tos you do if Phillip needs cheering up?

Mostly minor things.

I can do a hilarious impression of William Henry Vanderbilt. He's the most influential businessman in New York at the moment but he is such a stuffy old windbag. We spoke to him briefly at a party once and I spent the rest of the night impersonating his wheezy drone. It cracks Phillip up now every time I do it.

I've also noticed he has a particular fondness for French brewed coffee and is partial to a toffee humbug. Sometimes when he looks a bit more ruffled than usual I'll head into town on my coffee break and bring back imported coffee beans and a bag of sweets. I can slip the sweets into his pocket and replace the beans in the pot without him noticing most days, he usually has a bounce in his step again by mid afternoon.

I try to make sure I let him know on a daily basis how important he is to the show, to the troupe, and God how important a part of my own life he has become. I can't vocalise it enough.

On the days he doesn't look like he believes it deep down behind those telling eyes, I'll usually throw an arm around his shoulder after the show and take him to the bar for a drink. Sometimes you don't have the exact words that someone needs to hear, but your company and eagerness to spend time with them is enough to show them that they matter.

[askbarnum]

What was it like when you had your first daughter? I can imagine learning to change diapers must have been interesting.

Caroline’s birth was one of the most magical moments of my life. From the moment I was handed that little bundle, I knew I would do anything and everything in the world to protect her. I’ve never felt a swell of love so strong.

But you’re not wrong, it was my first experience with a new born and I admit I was clueless back then.

Charity was suffering quite terribly for a few weeks after the birth, so taking care of the infant fell entirely to me for a while. I had to plead for time away from work and stay home with her. Child rearing is rarely a man’s job, so I’d never been taught anything I needed to know. Fortunaty, I’m a lot more knowledgeable now.

Changing diapers wasn’t so bad, I’m not offended by unpleasantries, and I had no trouble getting them pinned into place. It got harder as she got older and wanted to wriggle around and crawl away more, but as a newborn, that was the easy bit. 

It was the endless crying that got to me the most. It’s hard to know what they need, and sometimes I’d feel like I had tried everything. Getting up every hour of the night was exhausting, and while most of the time she was either hungry, wet, or lonely, I was constantly paranoid that she was sick or hurting and I wouldn’t know. She was so tiny, so fragile, I had never been so terrified, especially after Charity's previous birthing difficulties.

I don’t think I got any sleep for weeks and was borderline delusional. Even when she wasn’t crying I would sit by her crib and watch her to make sure that she was still breathing. I’m not proud of it, but sometimes I’d gently poke her awake because the silence would become unnerving.

Charity finally took over one day after I unpacked the shopping and sat down to rock Caroline to sleep, though ended up dozing off myself. Charity woke me up not long after to ask where Caroline was, turns out I was so sleep deprived that I had put her away with the potatoes in the pantry and was actually cradling a sack of flour. I can chuckle about it now, but at the time we both had an utterly terrifying ten minutes trying to find her, nearly tore the flat apart.

I made a lot of mistakes when Caroline was a baby, from not realizing I needed to stir the formula, to taking my eyes off of her when she was crawling around. Thankfully by the time Helen came along I was much more knowledgeable, and confident too.