A couple of days ago at work, one of my co-workers bought some latex balloons for another employee as a joke. After the joke was finished, the balloons were not needed anymore, so someone brought them up to the front register and told me to give them away to any little kids who might look like they needed a balloon.
It’s always fun when, for some reason, we have some freebie to give away. There’s nothing like being able to brighten someone’s day a little bit with a gesture like “here! Take one; it’s free!” So when a mom and her adorable young daughter walked up to the counter, I cheerfully suggested that perhaps the little girl would like one of my balloons. As expected, the little girl’s face lit up at the mere idea, and I could see her imagining the joy of possessing one of the beautiful, round, shiny, colorful balloons behind the counter.
This revery came to a swift end as her mother fixed me with a look that would have been appropriate if I had just suggested her daughter go join a gang that encouraged its members to jump off of bridges. (I am probably exaggerating.) But she did politely refuse the balloon on the grounds that “When those latex balloons pop kids can CHOKE ON THEM AND DIE HORRIBLE DEATHS.” (I might be exaggerating again.) I didn’t really know what to say to this, so I just looked on apologetically as the little girl and her mother walked out the door. “Have a nice day!” I called after them. “A nice, balloon-less day,” I might have added.
I must have been a very lucky child. All those times I played with balloons–I never knew how close to DEATH I was!
April 9th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
“A nice, balloon-less day”
That made me laugh. You have a great sense of humor, and it’s hard to convey that in writing, but that was a really good re-telling of what would have been a boring story otherwise.
So cute to picture this poor little girl so close to death and saved by the swift thinking of the overprotective mom!
April 9th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
Thank you so much, Natalie! I really appreciate that you took the time to come check out my blog. Thank you also for the kind comment you left me over on your blog–that made my day too.
And yes, I did design my site, although I have to admit I cheated a little bit by altering the existing Wordpress template rather than starting from scratch; you can tell because the comments form and other details still look like the default Wordpress style. But I’m working on those last details. In due time. 
April 10th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
Erin, you know, I know people (who call themselves web designers) who can’ even change the colors on the Kubrick theme. You did the background, header, color scheme and a few other details I noticed too. And hey, when it’s your own blog, you don’t have to start from scratch!
April 11th, 2006 at 4:34 am
oh man. don’t get me started on this dangerous thing. it makes it hard as hell to be a mom, i tell you. because in my mind, the way to be cool is to que sera sera, the way it was for us as kids. but the pressure is on from other moms to be a kid’s worst nightmare. my girls are always setting a bad example at the park by going barefoot when it’s too cold to be barefoot. when the other kids ask their moms if they can take off their shoes, you can’t imagine the looks i get. i hope i never deny my kids those balloons. you come offer them one anytime, erin.
April 15th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
Lol, I bet that is a pain, Laurie. I would gladly offer your kids balloons.