So, when I was 12, I had a suitor
Yes, I hardly knew him, but he wanted to impress the socks off me. He wanted me to know how special he thought I was. He wanted to bring a smile to my face. He did this by buying me tokens. little gifts to make my day special. Looking back at it was very sweet. They were nice kind gestures. One day, I was sitting in class, and a bouquet of balloons arrived for me. The most outstanding bouquet of balloons. The biggest most colorful bouquet of balloons. I got 60 of them! 60 balloons! This middle school boy who I hardly knew bought me 60 balloons. I loved those balloons, how my arm went up when I carried them, how massive and lovely and HUGE that bouquet was. Walking down the street with my Bouquet of 60 balloons was one of the happiest gifts I've ever been given. Balloons have a way of making me smile in a way that brings back that fabulous surprise. And, here, my poor daughter feels like she's being punished for having to sit in this lovely light for a photo. Yes, your mother is just so mean. I tie balloons to your arm in hopes that you feel a tiny bit of that joy I had from that bouquet of 60. Did you ever receive any gifts as a child that still make you light up when you think back? Balloons do that for me. #blog
#weareparents by +Juan Gonzalez (thought you'd like this story).
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hiii irika
I love your story as much as the image. So much vibrance to both, +Erika Thornes.
So, you are the mind behind "UP" by Disney-Pixar's ..
Now we know.. 😉
Lovely story. As lovely as the photo.
Great story, beautiful image.
Lovely story! And great image!
Wow, 60 balloons?! The boy knows a way to a girl's heart lol. Great story and adorable photo. I love the "UP" reference +Roberto Gelleni !
coooooooooooool very nice story and lovely pic
That's awesome +Erika Thornes!
The story makes the picture just the more adorable, +Erika Thornes! Tell it to your daughter in let's say 20 years, and have your camera ready to capture the smile…
+Erika Thornes Superb! WOW X 10!!! ;-)))
Lovely story and photo!
she looks so upset to be there, yet still so beautiful. one day she'll look at this and realize that holding balloons should be FUN!!
in highschool , for valentines day, you could purchase single red roses for friends or your secret crush. one year, grade 11 I believe, I received one of those roses. it was from a secret admirer. other than the teacher, i was the only one in the class to get one. i'm pretty sure i know who sent it to me, but he never approached me about it. either way, it totally made me feel special that day!
Of course, mom isn't a suitor and five balloons aren't sixty. I understand her pain. ;-))
+Martin J Brown Jr I am Still laughing. Great post!!!!
+Taimi Krys very cool….
+Erika Thornes
Awesome
Great story!!!
What a great story, Erika! It's probably a little …unsurprising, but the special gift that immediately comes to mind is the Kodak Brownie camera I got as a flower girl gift from a family friend, when I was 6 years old. I felt so grown up! I loved that camera so much – even though my film usage was carefully rationed due to budgetary limits – and of course, the little flash cubes were limited, too.
As Erica said Ballons arte the happiest gift and as far as iam cocerned erica expressed her feeling in a right way which we all came to know.
Lisa u r alos right from ur end.
Hws the camera now r u having it vth u.
+Mohammed Ashfaq I've long since lost track of that camera, but I keep one around most of the time now.
I love your story, Erica! If only balloons didn't also die like flowers… sigh
My favorite thing from childhood was a dog, a chocolate toy poodle. Our neighbor was a breeder and I helped her with the dogs sometimes. One new litter had a runt, and she only had 3 legs. I was about 8 and I named her Stumpy (I didn't know it was kinda mean at the time). I loved that dog so much to this day my eyes tear up when I see a chocolate toy poodle because I thought I'd keep her forever. My parents decided to move from PA to FL and told me that Stumpy couldn't come with us. I've never gotten a straight answer as to why they made this decision, but at the time they said we might have to move into a condo that probably wouldn't accept dogs. However in our Uhaul to FL I sat in the middle with the cat litter under my feet for my mom's 2 cats! Can you say double standard! I never forgave them for taking away my best friend! I now have two little dogs again, and as much as I love them I've come to realize I was trying to get back that feeling that I had with Stumpy. I've had to face the sad fact that I never will.
Dear Lisa,
Thanks for the reply and thats great…
Dear Lisa,
Can you add me in Google+ so we can chat
+Lisa Ellis I would have loved to have a camera that was my favorite gift. I had a few of them, but always seemed to drop them off cliffs and things….. I loved your story! +Linda DuLac I had a boyfriend in highschool. His mom got a rose every Friday of their entire marriage. His dad brought it home. She saved them all in baskets around the house. It was so sweet. I don't think balloons would save as well….. and my daughter had a dog. My husband was working very late, and would be gone for many hours, I needed someone to keep me company. But, she could jump a 6 foot fence. We had an 8 foot fence. She had to find a new home when we moved because there was no place here that could really contain her well. We loved her dearly, and she's living on an open farm. I am glad she's found a great home, but I do miss her. +Mohammed Ashfaq I love your enthusiasm, and I hope that you find people who would love to chat.
I hadn't thought about flowers lasting dried, that's very true. What a sweet idea +Erika Thornes , that mom was very lucky!
My dog could fit in a purse and even with 3 legs she was a great little runner! The HOUSE we moved into had a fenced backyard! My parents gave the dog to my best friends grandmother who loved her very much, but I could have taken her and kept her. I'm glad your dog was happy in her new farm home, I'd guess most dogs would LOVE that! 
My little Stumpy loved to run, but she mostly loved a warm lap to curl up on! hehe
Dear Erica,
Cant we be friends