By Emily Schilling

Looking back, I’ve done some pretty interesting things so far in my life.

I’ve judged a cooking competition and a scholarship pageant. Not only have I flown the friendly transcontinental skies in a 747, I’ve been sky high in a hot air balloon. I’ve buzzed around the Charlotte Motor Speedway in a car navigated by a NASCAR driver and driven my own car (much slower) around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

And, for several years, I built quite a reputation as a face painter. Back in the 1990s, you might have seen me at some electric co-op annual meetings, stationed at a small table equipped with palettes of clown make-up and brushes. I adorned children’s faces with flowers and rainbows and whatever else they desired. 

Unlike many face painters, I wasn’t a clown. However, when I was “booked” for one of my REMC annual meeting painting gigs, a coworker was asked to dress up like a clown and help entertain the kids. I was in charge of transforming her into her new persona: “Coney.” I’ll never forget the bemused reaction she got from other travelers as she drove us along Interstate 74 in full clown make-up and wig. I learned then never to underestimate the power of a makeover. When you’re dressed like a clown, you will definitely not be ignored.

The first week of August is National Clown Week. Although Stephen King’s “It” may have given some a “clown complex,” when I think about clowns, I remember “Coney” and how some greasepaint, a red wig and a goofy personality can brighten someone’s day!

EMILY SCHILLING is editor of Electric Consumer