Balloon-a-rama

Two weeks ago, shortly after my surgery, a sweet co-worker sent me an Edible Arrangements as a get well gift. It was filled with strawberries and red grapes, plus plenty of chocolate-covered strawberries, apples, and even some flower-shaped pineapple slices dipped in chocolate. What a treat! Attached to the bouquet of fruit was a brightly-colored "Get Well" balloon.

After the typical flurry of activity over the doorbell and associated worries about strangers approaching the castle, the dogs then became intrigued not with the food, but with the rather unorthodox object attached: that crazy balloon, which bobbed and weaved and spun around unnaturally.

Tonka sounded the first alarm soon after the Edible Arrangement was placed on the dining room table. Hackles immediately began to rise along the ridge of his back and he began growling at the cheerful helium interloper. He moved carefully behind the object and sniffed, inspected, sniffed, then commenced with barking. Loudly. Repeatedly. The balloon didn't care, it had landed in a fun location where the ceiling fans kept it perpetually in motion. It was happy there, dogs be damned.

Daisy, ever the coward, let Tonka take the lead in ensuring our safety. She did sneak a peek or two at the balloon but mostly cowered behind the recliner, just in case. You never know when one of these things might explode, after all. Daisy managed to let out a few half-hearted barks in support of Tonka's efforts. Eventually we could no longer stand the commotion. We untied the balloon and let it find a high point behind the pantry door, then commenced with the eating of chocolate-covered fruit.

The next day, Dave decided to bring the balloon back out where it could serve its rightful purpose: to cheer me up. He tied it to the back of a dining room chair where it looked gloriously happy and fulfilled. For nearly two weeks, it bobbed and weaved with the breezes coming in through the window, and later in the day it spun in circles, performing a cheerful dance accompanied by the whirring of the ceiling fans and the air conditioning vent located just underneath the window. Later a new bouquet of flowers that perfectly matched the balloon's colorful exterior arrived to share this prime location, directly across from my favorite chair. By now the dogs had grown bored with the balloon; it had become nothing more than an additional piece of furniture.

Until yesterday.

Slowly over time the balloon grew flatter. Just like we all do, as time takes its toll on our outer layers, its skin was no longer tight, it drooped and sagged a bit more with each passing day. Then on Saturday morning we woke to find the balloon resting, weary and exhausted, against that beautiful bouquet of flowers, nearing its death throes.

With this turn of events, the balloon again drew the interest of Tonka and Daisy. What the heck is wrong with that thing? they wondered. Tonka approached the balloon carefully, cautiously, as it was no longer in its lofty perch and was now bobbing wearily into his territory, which posed a problem. The rest of the tale unfolds in the video attached below.

We finally decided to put the balloon out of its misery with a quick poke in the belly. Its job was done; the cheerful design made me happy each time I glanced its way, I am getting well, and the poor, sad balloon needn't be harassed by our crazy dogs any longer.