Tears of a clown

I was looking at one of Red Skelton’s oil clown paintings the other day, and if you look close enough, you could see the tears of the clown just under the surface. I vividly recall watching Freddy the Freeloader, Sheriff Deadeye and Clem Kadiddlehopper when growing up. Robin Williams enjoyed watching his father belly-laugh while watching the Jonathan Winters Show.

Winters and Williams caused millions to laugh when they were clowning around and creating humor out of thin air. Both men were full of heart, humor, talent, and to some, demons. Both men knew how to keep the stage curtain partially closed when they experienced darkness and inner battles that took them to the edge and back; wearing a mask, both on and off stage, when descending into the abyss to shield themselves from the audience.

Alcohol and drug addiction are diseases, as is manic-depressive and major depressive illness. Look for the tears of a clown behind the mask. Skelton ended every one of his shows with “Good night and God bless.”

James Perkins

Colville