Endangered species? A bunch of hot air.

It happens everyday.  They escape a distracted toddler’s hand or just simply get set free into the great big blue.  “Uh-oh,” he points as Tigger climbs into the atmosphere to bounce amongst the….. power lines.  Apparently this causes power outages in California more than 800 times a year. 

We try to leash them.  My son receives a helium maroon balloon from the grocery store.  A lolli-pop is tied around the end to weight this electricity sniper.  Brilliantly, my son devours the sweetie and single handily the balloon escapes.  Clever little puff of latex, “Free at last!”  Tike tears drive us back to the grocery and this time we take ownership of a helium foil figure of toddler superstar Lightening McQueen.  We tie his tail into two heavy metal discs and are satisfied that he is impounded & grounded.  My son flings him around the house with sheer joy until those two little weighted heavy hitters smack my daughter in the eye.  McQueen gets the scissors.

When I was a child at Bear Branch Elementary, we had balloon day.  We would write our name and school address onto a scrap of colored paper and loop it to a heli-loon.  400 children set their tiny warriors free in the hopes that one would land far far away and we’d get a letter.  “Hey kid, I found your balloon in my pool.”  Well, they also found them in the ocean and some pesky seal or dolphin put in a complaint.  “86 Balloon Day, Bill.  Hey, how about Green Day?”

But, outlaw balloons?  The Californian party industry is hot and bothered about the Senator’s deflated deal.  “Mission: Save the Mylar” is well underway in our great state.  Half pints everywhere perch on pins &  needles, what is the balloon’s fate?

~ by drea on July 15, 2008.