Today, I had a surprise “up lifting” experience. Sitting in traffic, I noticed a bright apple green
balloon bouncing in the middle of the intersection. No joke.
At first, a movement caught my
eye. I thought maybe it was a duck as they
often cut between cars making their way to this pond or that friendly lady’s
yard with all the bread. So, I kept
looking for more movement around the car that was about 3 cars ahead of
me. When the light turned for the lane
crossing in front of me, the balloon got started, doing a dance in the middle of the
intersection. Car after car passed. Each one likely oblivious to the effect it
had on the balloon. Gusts of air
generated by the moving car would lift the balloon soaring about 3-4 feet off
the ground and then it would drop.
Another car would cause it to skit sideways and then it would gracefully
land. Time after time, it hit the gritty
pavement only to take flight again.
Finally, my light changed and the cars in front of me passed
it. Then I approached, trying not to take
my eyes off the dancing balloon, yet trying to avoid an accident. I feared it might get caught under my car
because the car before had forced it in front of me. But no!
The little green balloon scooted to the left and kept happily hopping in
the intersection as each car passed it. It
was a reminder that this Friday, like every day, could be full of happiness and
unexpected moments of surprise that make each day an amazing gift. I kept
looking at that serendipitous green bubble in my side view mirror until I could
see it no longer.
I wonder if the other drivers noticed the jolly little
balloon – a celebrating survivor, if even for only a little while. I wonder if it brought another the joy and
amazement it brought me. I mostly wish I
had taken a picture of it so that, one day, I would know what kind of balloon
could survive being repeatedly slammed into the pavement without breaking because,
heaven knows, all the balloons I ever got for my kids’ parties broke upon
contact with a cotton ball.