Some more about me: #juggling. I learned to #juggle in my year off from college. When I returned to #ReedCollege , juggling was a PE class and I signed up. After I graduated I started teaching that juggling class. In 1992 I founded the #PortlandJugglingFestival with much help from my friends. Around that time, I was also tapped to staff a new juggling space at the #OregonCountryFair. I have taught thousands of people to juggle, or taught them a new trick, or a new prop. Juggling changed my life.
When the pandemic hit, I started teaching juggling class for #ReedCollege on Zoom and that was hard and so different from being in person. It also meant that the college class was no longer a meeting place for all the #PortlandJugglers and community that have been participating for 40+ years.
Then, on top of the pandemic, in February 2021, an ice storm destroyed both gyms at the college. That meant continued online juggling classes at Reed.
https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/articles/2021/snowstorm-sports-center-roof.html
This year, juggling class at #ReedCollege have resumed in person, with masks, with the Performing Arts Building generously allowing us to use the atrium for class. This is a huge relief for me! We have a few guest instructors, but don't have the space to invite the general public back.
Construction on the new gyms begins next month and will be finished for Fall 2024.
Information for juggling in Portland in the meantime can be found at https://www.portlandjugglers.org/
Me? I mostly juggle balls and clubs. On a good day I can juggle five balls, although the pandemic has left me woefully out of practice. Since I started juggling, I've been drawn to club juggling, especially club passing patterns with several people.
I have met some of my closest friends through juggling. My thesis advisor. The best man at my wedding. The groom for whom I was best man. I never imagined being part of this wonderful community of jugglers and circus artists. I am blessed.