Sodbuster - Walking the Wire

WALKING THE WIRE © 1997 Emily Hoffman	This year, she'll perform in hundreds of shows across the United States. She will balance on the high wire as crowds watch with amazement. Who is she? She's 8-year-old Linda Garcia. Linda travels across the US for 10 months out of the year, performing high-wire acts in her family's circus. According to her father, she's the youngest high-wire walker in the United States. "I love walking the high wire," says Linda. She's good at it, too. If practice makes perfect, she should be good. She practiced four years for her first performance. "When I was about 4, I started asking my dad to let me walk on the wire. I pestered and pestered, and he finally said yes," relates Linda. Gaining skill and balance does not come easy. Linda started by walking on a wire that was only inches from the ground. After mastering that, her father moved the wire higher. This year, confident in her skill, Linda started performing with her family before crowds. "I'm not scared at all," says Linda, who always performs with a safety net underneath. "I've been doing it for so long, it kind of seems like I'm walking on the ground." Touring so much forces Linda to have school on the road. She spends several hours a day with her studies. She also practices her trumpet daily and spends a few hours practicing on the high-wire. Does she miss "regular school" and neighborhood friends? "No," says Linda. "I've always traveled with my family. I like it. And, there are other kids that travel with our circus." Linda performed at the Chase County Fair this year. If the Garcia Family Circus comes back next year, make sure to head over to the fairgrounds and watch Linda walk the wire.


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