 |
| photo by clipartsheep.com via googleimages |
I’m not sure if I was the only one who saw it. But I am sure
I am the only one who did anything about it—the red, heart-shaped
helium balloon trapped with a string beneath the branches of a very tolerant
looking tree. And when I did, I shared it with the only human option, the man walking right beside it as I passed him on my morning jog.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” I said to him, this
friend I had never met, my eyes looking first at him then into the branches of
the aforementioned tree. “We have to set our hearts free, to unleash the love...” And after I giggled a bit, I kept right on going. After all, it was my
morning jog.
But as I ran away, I realized that he might not have seen
the balloon. He might not have even known what I was talking about. And then I
started to wonder, dreamy-eyed me, if I had made it all up. Maybe there wasn’t
a balloon. Maybe my imagination had fooled me. Maybe I had finally taken this
running business too far.
So as I rounded another lap and found this friend I had
never met ahead of me for a second time, I decided I would ask him.
“Did you see what I was talking about or just think I was
crazy?” I stopped running to hear his response, my breath only slightly slowing
down.
“I didn’t at first but after you left, I took a closer look.
You meant the balloon, right?
“I did! So you saw it! Is it still there?”
“It is and I’ve decided you are right. I’m going to try to
free it the very next chance I get.”
“Yay!” I said, outstretching my arms in victory. “I can’t
wait to see her fly free! Just think of all the people who will see her, of all
the messages she will share, of the love you will grow! Hooray!” I sang as I
ran on, his smiles warming my back.
And so he did. He set that red, helium heart-shaped balloon
free. And she flew up into the highest sky I had ever seen!
“Look! Do you see her? Do you see her? You know her message
is for you, don’t you?” I said to everyone I passed. “Share the love, set your
own heart free, love . . . more. That’s her message—to you, to me!”
To You.
To me.
4 comments:
How is it that someone like you you actually exists in this world. Your JOY is the best thing I have ever experienced.
Sweet, sweet, beautiful Jo...I am no different than anyone else. I just made a choice--to highlight, embrace, share, whatever you want to call it, the little things that make life magic. We all have that choice, even with something as simple as a red balloon:)
Thank you for your loving words, dear Jo. They warm me in the way all the best compliments do:)
Oh Brynne...I miss you
I think reading the picture book The Red Balloon was my first taste of sustained disbelief/heroism.
That clued me into "a sense of something more" out there...meeting you, I had the same experience! Do you love it?!
My dear, dear Jenna...I miss *you*! And how very sweet of you to share the magic of yourself here! You gave me such happy flutters in my tummy when I read your words and revisited our connection! Thank you! Wish you lived closer! Hugs from afar, beautiful Jenna girl!:)
Post a Comment