Once upon a time, when I was not single, having opted for the dubious commitment of a relationship (which benefits we shall not elaborate upon here…), my husband du jour sent me balloons on my birthday – one dozen shiny silver Mylar balloons braided on long ribbons into a fist-sized knot.

My daughter called these “blayloons.” She also called matches “magics,” which seemed quite correct to me at the time.

I was working at 2500 Market Street in Nashville, across from Parthenon Park for CGFNS, an organization certifying foreign nurses to work in the USA. An enterprising co-worker tied the balloons to my chair & at 5:30, I untied them, wrapped the ribbon around my wrist & headed for the elevator. We had spent the day together. I had squelched my propensity to name all of them. We were heading home.

Have you ever attempted getting twelve Mylar balloons into an elevator during rush hour? If you do, you will find it a study in the absurd & the initial smiles of co-workers did not last as I managed to somehow corral all of them for the downward trip.

I found the lobby doors locked except for the revolving door in the center. Ah! Another challenge! I saw people on Market Street stop to watch. I saw money exchanging hands. But I was much younger then & braver by far, so, totally surrounded by silvery shine, we exited the building, the balloons exhaling out the open space forcefully only to be choked back by the ribbon I had wrapped around my wrist.

It was about 6:30 by that time. On full exit, a round of applause & commentary awaited from the passers-by who obviously did not have to get home to prepare dinner. Or better yet, have the treat of eating out for their birthday!

I marched bravely on towards my compact car in the parking lot nearby. Another hour passed by the time I got Fritz, Bessie, Blue, Jordan, Charles, Amber, Clarissa, Ant’ony, Ed, Buzz, Rocky & Bing into the car.

We had learned much about each other in the interim: I learned how the longing to fly can continue far beyond restraint. They learned how to fit together in one place several times over. I’m not sure who came out tops on any of it at all, but the memory lasted far beyond the wedding vows!