Bonnie Blank has been clowning around for
years, literally. As Christian clown, "Merry Heart," Blank is a
joy to young and old alike.
Blank delights in visiting area churches, nursing homes and day care
facilities; bringing a message of love to her audiences. Her message:
"If not a religious statement, it's a need to live together and love
each other".
After her 22-year-old daughter was killed five years ago, her only condolence
was that she knew her daughter loved the Lord. "It's
my heart's desire for all children to know the Lord and where they're
going to, she said. She picked her name "Merry Heart" from
proverb 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."
Blank is joined on her rounds by her husband, |
Clyde, alias "Happy Heart.
"When Bonnie first began her clown routines, Clyde went along to help
with her props. "I thought she was crazy," Clyde said, I
told her I'd never do that. . . never, say never," he
laughed. "When I saw, the kids faces, I, got turned
on, he said. Bonnie admits she started him out slow and reeled him
in.
First I asked him to introduce me. After two or three weeks, I
suggested he wear a clown suit, then came the face makeup. It
actually took about eight months for his character to evolve." . Soon
Clyde was off to Christian Clown College in Ohio, and he's been
hooked ever since. The couple recently revamped their act to include
"wide-mouth" puppets. "Our show is based on the fact that
. |
Christmas is Jesus' birthday and how we get all
caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget just what Christmas is
about" Bonnie said. The Blanks have hand-made many of their 22
puppets. "They each have their own personality," Bonnie said, as
she introduced "Grandma" who was doubling as all angel for the
Christmas show. "The shepherd's cloak was previously a dress of
mine," Bonnie pointed out. There is no admission charge to
their shows and love offerings collected go toward the purchase of more
puppets. The couple also work together in their real estate
business. "Everyone has a hobby and this is ours," Clyde
said. They will be performing the Christmas show through January and
still have several openings. |
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