The Balloon Thing
I am still confused about the balloon thing. I spend a truly bizarre amount of time contemplating balloons tied to people's mailboxes. I am missing something.
For example, yesterday I spied a Boston Red Sox balloon tied to the mailbox at a nearby house. First game of the ALDS, I know, but how did this one balloon get there? Is the person who lives in that house such a Red Sox fan that s/he has a helium tank and cases of balloons just begging for the post-season? Did someone send the person in this house a single balloon just for the occasion? Are there more Red Sox balloons in the house? Did the person who lives in the house wake up that morning and say, "Hey! ALDS--gotta get my balloon!"
Maybe the person in this house was hosting a huge baseball watching bonanza, but the game started at 10 ET, and I can't imagine it was a huge crowd here in the sleepy, sleepy suburbs. And the house was awfully quiet when I drove past it at 8:45.*
I don't know why I care, but I wonder about the balloons. All the time.
Any avid balloon fans out there who can explain the phenomenon to me?
*I wasn't actually stalking the balloon: I was on my way home from Open House at The Boy's school.
Where I live in MA, balloons are used for a number of things: To mark where a party is located (pink or blue for baby showers, theme balloon for birthday party), sometimes they are used to mark directions (ie, take a left at whatever street, we'll put a balloon up so you can see it). They are also used to announce things- especially births, but equally popular are high school graduations, birthdays (50,over the hill etc). I always wonder why they never get taken down. Then you just have these sad balloons drooping everywhere!
Anne
Posted by: Anne | October 02, 2008 at 02:34 PM
New reader here. Balloons in the UK signify birthdays when outside houses. Otherwise you might see charity balloons - we are awash with pink ones for Breast Cancer Awareness month - but thats about it.
Posted by: Betty M | October 02, 2008 at 03:29 PM
This is fascinating. You could write an ethnographic study on it. Do they sell them in grocery stores? Liquor stores? I'm picturing the red sox fan making kind of an impulse buy, then deciding to tie it to the mailbox...hmm...
Posted by: caro | October 02, 2008 at 11:41 PM
I always tie one to the mailbox when we have a party. Helps people find the house. Of course, that's out here in Indiana, where we shoot off firecrackers on Wednesday nights for fun. We're a little bit backward.
Posted by: Amy | October 03, 2008 at 07:50 AM
They are to mark occasions and locations, as others have said. You can get the ballons (even sports ballons) in the grocery stores in my suburbs. I don't exactly get it when people go overboard though.
It reminds me of high school when friends would decorate the birthday girl's (cause it was always a girl) locker. Did that happen elsewhere? It was a way to let the world know that it was her birthday and show how her friends cared by decorating her locker. I had a summer birthday though...
Posted by: caramama | October 03, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Do they have seasonal Banners? That has always baffled me.
Posted by: Sarah | October 03, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Oh, we did birthday locker decorating. I did not partake because I was not popular, but other kids did it. When a coworker turned 40, we trashed his office with pink and black balloons. Big hit.
And here in Indiana, it is true that we blow of firecrackers with alarming frequency. Everyone puts their dogs on Zanax for the 4th of July.
Shall we discuss porch geese/ducks? I am pretty sure it's only little old ladies who do this, but they dress the Goose up for the various seasonal holidays. Right now, the duck would be dressed as a witch, then a turkey, then Santa Clause, a snowman, in rain gear (with boots), Easter Bunny, etc.
And my mom does the seasonal banners. She has a little metal pole in the yard and swaps out her Red Hat Lady flag with the autumn leaves flag and so on.
Posted by: SarcastiCarrie | October 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I have not seen tons of balloons in our burbs outside Philly. I see the ones to mark a party, but they are usually gone within a few days, so I don't see a ton of them. Now outdoor flags I see everywhere!!!
Posted by: Heather | October 03, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Where are you?
Stop following the balloons (unless they signal a party that is serving free alcohol)!
Hope you are all okay.
Posted by: Christine | October 21, 2008 at 05:06 PM