I love helium balloons. This is not a part of my second childhood, because I never had them in my first childhood. We began buying balloons for the grandchildren, but I’m sure I took more delight in them than they did. This past season I had two for my birthday on December 22nd, and they were banned – BANNED!!!! — for Christmas. And this is from a family that prides itself on celebrating a birthday for a whole month! I enjoyed my marvelous balloons exactly two days before they were removed. In all fairness, I must add that sister Barbara and Thom threw a surprise party for me on the 19th, and it was fantastic. However, the subject here is balloons.
Thank heavens my family is not sadistic and did not demand that I kill the balloons. The floaty objects of joy moved to my bedroom. They kept me company while I used the computer and stood sentinel during the night. The big Christmas tree balloon took over the dining room on Christmas Eve, and it was relegated to the bedroom on New Year’s Eve to make room for the last one of the year. Now I have all four to myself. I enjoy the company, even when they just hang there. It’s fun to walk among them, ducking under two to get to the dresser. When the heat blows, the balloons come alive, dancing on their ribbon tethers. They twirl, bob, nod to each other, and retreat. With a little music, they could be ballroom dancers.
I wanted to pose the balloons for a formal portrait, but the heat was on. The camera called for action, “Video!”
I shall complain no more, because I will keep these balloons until they sink to the floor. It could be days. It could be weeks. Party on!
Mehrling Muse 
My dear kitty Oliver was terrified of balloons. He would hide if one was anywhere in the house!
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David and I think either his mother or his aunt dislike balloons. Whoever it is hates them when they burst.
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Oliver didn’t even need them to pop to be terrifying. They just had to be “there.”
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That’s rather pitiful. Poor Oliver!
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Tie the balloons around your waist and place them behind you so you can take a selfie of you and your friends together. If you walk around with them there they’ll keep tapping you on the shoulder or patting you on the head to say hello as friends do. My birthday tomorrow 18th, Bet I don’t get any friends to hang around with.
Massive Hugs
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I like your idea of bonding with my balloon friends. They might not like the ties that bond.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a marvelous day, even if you get no balloon friends to hang out with.
xxx Floaty Friend Hugs xxx
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The modern helium balloons are so much fun. I can remember years ago when getting a very plain helium balloon was the highlight of a day at the fair.
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You know where I’m coming from!
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is your family filled with Globophobics
Anne? You never explained why they banned your birthday balloons?
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Birthday balloons were not appropriate for Christmas. The end result was very much to my liking — having the balloons in my room.
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Happy belated birthday btw Anne, mine was Nov 29
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A belated birthday to you, too. If you lived in the States, you’d tangle with Thanksgiving fallout.
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ya,………who wants to roast two turkeys!
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I liked the word Globophobics. Fantastic!
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did you know what it meant out of curiosity?
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No, I did not know what Globophobics meant, but I looked it up. Whichever daughter does not like balloons is not afraid of them, but she hates the noise when they burst.
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Loud noises bother cats and dogs as well. Including my eagle friends who live close to the harbour. (Romeo and Juliette)
When they let the fireworks off they bolt! Canada Day (July 1 st) they are tending to their eaglets.So leaving them alone unattended could prove fatal If a predator was around but it always happens at night or near sunset. So I guess not many predators out roaming?
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Poor eagles!
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I would like to document their reaction by placing a camera close by.
Several years ago I checked in on them the day before July 1st and found they were gone? I suspect they are so sensitive that they knew the “night of BIG noises” was almost upon them and left Dodge?
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Other beings can be much more sensitive than we think. My son was telling me that many dogs understand human words at a three-year-old level.
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If you want a smart animal, look no further than a Raven! They are just about as smart as a human! People say Grey Parrots are the smartest bird in the world but I’m putting my money on ravens!
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I’ve heard that about ravens, too. Would you want one as a pet???
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yes and no. I’d like for it to remain in the wild. They bond with the face of the person when they are born. With audio (whistle) and food reward training,I bet it would come when called. They are illegal to own. A species from another continent is ok.
This link explains
http://wild-about-wildlife.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-can-i-get-pet-crow-or-raven.html
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That link was very interesting. I’m not about to adopt a foreign crow or raven.
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neither would I
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I love your balloons. What a great way to continue the celebrations!!
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Love this, You made me smile again Anne.
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floaty objects of joy
That’s a great description of helium balloons. I like them too, but did you know that there has been a worldwide helium shortage going on for the last few years? Therefore I applaud you on getting every last ounce of joy out of your balloons. Long may they float.
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I heard there was a shortage some time ago, but I hadn’t heard it lately. I’ll appreciate my balloons even more now.
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I am so glad that you got balloons for your birthday and Christmas. Such a simple pleasure or so it seems. Did you know there is a world wide helium shortage? I have read that some in the medical community want to ban helium balloons all together because helium is heavily used in MRI technology. Can you imagine those innocent balloons being illegal?
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I didn’t realize there was still a shortage of helium. I must find another innocent pleasure to take its place. I wonder what else would do?
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Hmm – pin wheels? wind chimes? prisms? bubbles? That’s a tough one. Oh how ’bout a regular balloon – rub it on your hair to build up static electricity then stick it to your shirt. We used to have fun doing that as kids. LOL!
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I’m on your wavelength. I have pin wheels, wind chimes, and whirligigs. I went through a prism phase, too. Bubbles are a great suggestion. We have a bottle here right now! I was waiting for extremely cold weather, wanting to see if bubbles would freeze before bursting. Keep your fingers crossed that we get enough cold weather to satisfy me without hurting the whole county.
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Balloons were rare in my childhood even the ones you blew up by yourself. Enjoy!
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I’m going to wake up in the night and talk to my balloons while they last.
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Balloons play a major role in the movie “UP’.If you havent seen it you must. You will enjoy .
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I haven’t seen “UP”. When things settle down here, I’ll have to look for it.
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Happy belated Balloon Day, 🎈🎈🎈 Birthday girl! Warmest wishes!
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Thank you, Ellie. Warm wishes are lovely on a cold day.
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Most fun is being the person sent to the store to pick up a bunch of these and then driving home as they bounce around! I write from experience.
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Oh! I never thought of the dri-vee! I’ve never bought a balloon myself.
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It is hysterical. We live near a Party Store so we see it all the time.
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Seeing cars full of balloons on a regular basis would be so much fun for me. I’m glad you mentioned it.
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As long as you are not inhaling them to get a squeaky voice – I am sure you just got your voice back from the bad cold. 🙂 I heard there was a helium shortage a few years ago – don’t know if it still applies, but one of the newscasters on my station was upset as she could not find any Rediwhip for her pumpkin pies and her family did not like Cool Whip. They liked the “poofy stuff” she said. That was the first I heard of it, but apparently there was a real shortage of whipped cream in a can due to the helium shortage. I am glad you brought them to life in the video!
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Two commenters said there is still a helium shortage. At least I have the little video if I never have another balloon.
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Wow – I didn’t realize there was still a shortage. I only heard the story for the pumpkin pie – that was the immediate urgency I guess. 🙂 Yes, you can always look back at them bopping around.
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🎈🎈A friend of mine purchased her own cans of helium from Party City a few months ago just in case the helium shortage turns into helium extinction!🎈🎈
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That’s great that your friend is prepared for the helium shortage. I’d probably do without balloons. *sigh*
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Helium balloons are so much fun! happy happy birthday Anne and enjoy those balloons!
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I will enjoy the balloons until they can no longer move.
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Anne, I love your helium balloons and yours here are so tranquil in their dance! It is odd how they seem to follow one around a house and as you write, even ‘stood sentinel during the night’. I had one that lasted over six months, although by then it was less flying high rather crawling along the floor! A belated Happy Birthday to you, Anne!😀🌺
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I laughed that your six-month balloon was crawling along the floor. I puncture mine when they can no longer rise at least half an inch off the floor. If I’m late, the family will prod me to action. I’m glad you enjoy helium balloons, too.
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Too bad the balloons were banned. Is that allowed? At least you still got to enjoy them in your room!
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The seasons collide at the end of the year, and balloons get pushed to my room where I can enjoy them fully.
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It could really be weeks, we had one for month in the house but as soon is not red and nobody in a yellow raincoat holds is fine🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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