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With Gratitude to My

Inspiring Readers & Listeners...

Inspiring Stories Beget Inspiring Stories

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So many of you have been in my life for eons; others have come into my life only recently. All of you enrich my life immeasurably. It is always heartening to hear from readers and listeners who take the time to tell me that they liked reading or listening to Flo's story. Of course, I have loved telling it. But I am especially moved when I'm told that the story has not only delighted them, but truly helped them. I am filled with gratitude when I hear those words!

 

I've often been asked what compelled me to write Becoming Flo, A Mostly True Story, and I always answer with this: first, to honor the memory of a remarkable human and her very human journey. Second, and equally important, by sharing out the story, I've always hoped that Flo's life choices might help light a path out of darkness for those, who like Flo, struggle to find a way forward. And apparently Flo - and I - have learned we've happily done just that! I'm always astounded, and so deeply moved by those who reach out to me to tell me their story, and how much Flo's story has helped them. This is absolutely, the biggest gift I could ever receive! 

 

Recently, I received just such a message from a reader who honors both me, and Flo, with his own inspiring words. Thank you Avi. And generously, Avi's granted me permission to share them with all of you now...

 

"Hi Deb, My name is Avi. I am a foot juggler and occasional clown for family circuses here in the U.S. I read your book last year and thought it was just the most lovely, delightful story I'd read in a long time. I am a queer Jewish person who had an orthodox or "traditional" upbringing and have used my own circus practice to bridge the gap between my appearance and my inherent femininity which feels closer to the truth than my name, “Avi” which [in Hebrew] literally means “father.” Knowing that there were people like me struggling with these same problems a century ago but finding both truth and success is really comforting as I navigate this creative industry myself. I think now more than ever, we need people like Flo. My circus partner and I are going out next month on one of the last small, traditional family circuses in the country (Circus Grimaldi) and we've been planning to do the old washer woman gag as two larger than life drag clowns. We found out very recently that many of the states that we're going to be playing either have or are working on having drag laws passed that would prevent us from doing this century-old staple of American circus clowning. Now we must censor ourselves and do an entirely different gag in the states that won't allow two clowns to wear dresses. It's jarring to think that while we like to believe that people and attitudes generally progress towards acceptance, that it's now actually harder to perform these old gags than it was back when Flo was doing them. I struggle somewhat with gender dysphoria. Flo's story really has been a beacon of hope in these particularly dark times. Thank you for your work."

 

Avi Kritzman, Illinois

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