The Clown Bus Story
The Biography of a RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE...An animated but true story that the names and places mentioned are purely intentional!
Hi folks, my name is "Thomas," my new owners call me "Peterbuilt" (my new clown name), some of you may remember me in my hey days of being an American Red Cross Bloodmobile. Remember the long days of laughing, crying, and all in between having a grand time with folks coming in to donate blood? I do miss you guys since my retirement but wanted to drop you a line to let you know that there is life after retirement. You put me out to pasture due to my age but I've got more life now than ever! BOY! Have I got a story for you!!!
I was sold at auction and was gravely worried about what my future was to hold. You see, I'm not the passenger type, so my skills were very limited. When this "clown guy" bought me and was shown to others of his kind, I could hear all sorts of crazy ideas that sounded interesting. I was still a little apprehensive. But when they gathered around and started sanding me down for a new coat (of paint that is), I began to come to life once again. White was OK for my old line of work, but you should see me now! I feel like a kid again! Now my favorite colors are red, green, and yellow.
After the fresh coat of paint, then came colorful graphics, and shiny new wheels. They went inside and replaced my recliners with covered benches, a cooler for refreshments, and even added a potty in one of my little privacy rooms! Hey, I've even got a microwave for popcorn! To top it all, I've got a sound system that blasts "LITTLE RICHARD" so loud it will make the pavement vibrate and your toenails curl! BOY, what a life!!! I've finally come out of my quiet little shell. I'll bet I've fooled you guys all these years of being dracula's ride. IT'S PARTY TIME WITH THESE CLOWN GUYS!!!
It takes me all week to rest up for the weekends (I'm not getting any younger you know). I get to go to parades now with my new owners. In fact I go to about fifty parades a year in Eastern North Carolina! I seem to work harder now after retirement than before, but I don't mind it at all. My buddies in the trailer that I tow (the old clown car, some bicycles, and scooters) ride out in front of me in parades along with some of the less fortunate clown guys that have to walk and dance in the streets for a living. They have the toughest jobs. I don't think they mind too much because I can hear laughing, joking and a little card playing going on, to and from the parades.
We get visitors all the time and my clown buddies are proud to show me off. We all get so much attention everywhere we go, especially from the kids. You know, I never knew kids were so much fun because of my earlier job of being a bloodmobile. Everything was so organized, sterile, and serious (sometimes). You guys need to come out and see us work...if you want to call it that.
I've been as far away as Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge, and all points in between. If you see us some day, give us a cheerful RED CROSS yell and hopefully you can see the excitement and sparkle in the eyes of the children as we pass by. Only you will know where my career started. Thanks for the memories.
Well, I just wanted you to know that I'm as happy as can be since retirement. Oh, one other thing. I've been on my new job for several years now and my interior still wreaks of Beta Dine. Does anyone know how to get the smell out?
P.S. I never told you but needles make my skin, Oops, sheet metal crawl! Tee Hee!
Having the time of my life,
"Thomas" aka "Peterbuilt" (The Clown Bus)
A TRUE STORY as told by REDD THE CLOWN, SUDAN DUNN CLOWNS THAT IS! 12/07
Hi folks, my name is "Thomas," my new owners call me "Peterbuilt" (my new clown name), some of you may remember me in my hey days of being an American Red Cross Bloodmobile. Remember the long days of laughing, crying, and all in between having a grand time with folks coming in to donate blood? I do miss you guys since my retirement but wanted to drop you a line to let you know that there is life after retirement. You put me out to pasture due to my age but I've got more life now than ever! BOY! Have I got a story for you!!!
I was sold at auction and was gravely worried about what my future was to hold. You see, I'm not the passenger type, so my skills were very limited. When this "clown guy" bought me and was shown to others of his kind, I could hear all sorts of crazy ideas that sounded interesting. I was still a little apprehensive. But when they gathered around and started sanding me down for a new coat (of paint that is), I began to come to life once again. White was OK for my old line of work, but you should see me now! I feel like a kid again! Now my favorite colors are red, green, and yellow.
After the fresh coat of paint, then came colorful graphics, and shiny new wheels. They went inside and replaced my recliners with covered benches, a cooler for refreshments, and even added a potty in one of my little privacy rooms! Hey, I've even got a microwave for popcorn! To top it all, I've got a sound system that blasts "LITTLE RICHARD" so loud it will make the pavement vibrate and your toenails curl! BOY, what a life!!! I've finally come out of my quiet little shell. I'll bet I've fooled you guys all these years of being dracula's ride. IT'S PARTY TIME WITH THESE CLOWN GUYS!!!
It takes me all week to rest up for the weekends (I'm not getting any younger you know). I get to go to parades now with my new owners. In fact I go to about fifty parades a year in Eastern North Carolina! I seem to work harder now after retirement than before, but I don't mind it at all. My buddies in the trailer that I tow (the old clown car, some bicycles, and scooters) ride out in front of me in parades along with some of the less fortunate clown guys that have to walk and dance in the streets for a living. They have the toughest jobs. I don't think they mind too much because I can hear laughing, joking and a little card playing going on, to and from the parades.
We get visitors all the time and my clown buddies are proud to show me off. We all get so much attention everywhere we go, especially from the kids. You know, I never knew kids were so much fun because of my earlier job of being a bloodmobile. Everything was so organized, sterile, and serious (sometimes). You guys need to come out and see us work...if you want to call it that.
I've been as far away as Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Pigeon Forge, and all points in between. If you see us some day, give us a cheerful RED CROSS yell and hopefully you can see the excitement and sparkle in the eyes of the children as we pass by. Only you will know where my career started. Thanks for the memories.
Well, I just wanted you to know that I'm as happy as can be since retirement. Oh, one other thing. I've been on my new job for several years now and my interior still wreaks of Beta Dine. Does anyone know how to get the smell out?
P.S. I never told you but needles make my skin, Oops, sheet metal crawl! Tee Hee!
Having the time of my life,
"Thomas" aka "Peterbuilt" (The Clown Bus)
A TRUE STORY as told by REDD THE CLOWN, SUDAN DUNN CLOWNS THAT IS! 12/07
