'Jungle Princess' (1965 - 2018)

For Sarasota, the Wallenda family - that circus name is iconic. So to see yesterday, a local obituary in the Herald Tribune, titled 'Jungle Princess dies at age 53' - made me a little squeamish.

In the mid 60's, a small town Sarasota once referred to my own step-mother JoAnne, as the "Indian Princess".  She wasn't circus, but in her own chosen lifestyle, close to it.  JoAnne half accepted that so-called privileged title, but at age 15, I wasn't so sure. Sounded derogatory, made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Having always been a circus fan, and having known and met four generations of Wallenda's, today I attended one more Wallenda memorial.  Tammy Wallenda, the "Jungle Princess", had chosen the "big cats" over the family's high wire act.  For over 25 years, Tammy, a lion-tamer, toured the country with her loved carnivores, and in some cases, her beloved household pets.  At the memorial, one daughter proudly mentioned, " she always kept the show on the road".


Kay Rosaire's, Big Cat Habitat Sanctuary held the memorial event .....

Tammy Wallenda on the road

James, Sanctuary employee and big cat fan.

Carla Wallenda, aerialist (last remaining child of Karl Wallenda).  At 82, Carla still performs today on the "sway pole".

back stage at the Big Cat Sanctuary