Up, Up and Away

A view in to Mary's world , including a china cabinet full of china and silver, a full picnic basket, a framed school photo, an small painting of Jesus, a disco ball and yes balloons

Mary loves balloons.

I know that every child loves balloons but Mary truly covets them.

Since she was tiny, she cherished a free balloon from Nordstrom children's department, or one that was handed to her by a clown at the Fourth of July parade(and she hates clowns).

I kid you not, these balloons are still in her possession today.

From my experience with children, balloons are a delight and then as they get older and more infiltrated by video games and other means of entertainment the glow wears off.

Mary has a system for her balloons. Day One she admires it and plays with it, testing gravity and making it stick to the wall by rubbing it on her hair.

Day Two, the balloon is placed in her room with the door shut so Baby Zelda can't get it as it begins to loose its air.

Day three, it is pretty much rolling around on the ground, so Mary puts it in a little spot between the couch and wall, so Zelda can't get it and so she can play homeless person living under the bridge( one of her favorite past times).

Day four, it goes into her closet, which is a sort of an apartment, and balloon sanctuary for retired balloons.

Last week, I was cleaning in her room and found all of the balloons from her birthday, a balloon from Baffling Bill from Chinese New Year, a balloon from Holiday Market and three balloons dating back some years... they were merely small flat pieces of latex.

There is something about this passion that really speaks volumes about Mary. She treasures or as Terry says she hoards.

Even the simplest things get placed in little boxes or bags and hidden away to be admired at another time.


The tooth fairy was informed to leave the money and leave the tooth.
Her teeny teeth reside in a small velvet bag in her nightstand.

I find it mysterious and charming, Terry thinks it is one step toward being a subject on "Buried Alive".