OCR Text |
Show loons burst on scene as substitutes for flowers Whether it's to say "I love you," "Welcome Home," "Get Well Soon," "Happy Birthday," or to ask your best girlfriend or boyfriend for a date to the prom, balloons are the w ay to go. That's according to local florists who agree the popularity of "balloon bouquets" has grown by leaps and lmunds over the past few years if not the past year. "We just can't believe it. We weren't going to get into it but the public kept asking for them," said employees at one firm. And that seems to be the consensus con-sensus as the bright colored spheres literally fill the air. Everyone is used to having balloons for birthday parties for their children, or to having them given away at business promotions of one kind or another. The helium-filled balloons also fill the air at football games, for special days at elementary schools where students request they be returned by . finders and anxiously wait to see if theirs is returned from some exotic-far-away place, and even, recently, at church functions. Clowns have also visited hospital patients to cheer them up by forming for-ming animals from the long, skinny balloons. Now, however, Mylar balloons have joined the popular rubber variety and technology has made it possible for solutions to be put in to the latex ones so they will stay full of air longer. As a result, balloon popularity has taken off. Why? One lady questioned says she gives balloons on a regular basis - "because they are so cheerful, they cheer people up. It's just fun." And that seems to be the most popular reason - "they just make you feel good." The "mylar" balloons come with all types of sayings from "This is a get well balloon - it's filled with heal-ium" to "You're a special person," "Welcome home," "Over the hill" and "Happy Birthday" while the rubber balloons come with sayings "Happy Birthday" or "Get Well." Many people purchase the less expensive balloons and write their own message with a marking pen. The latex balloons can be purchased in three sizes - 11 inch, 15 inch and 20 inch, with the 11 inch the most popular. The "mylar's" stay up for ap-See ap-See Balloons page 12 Balloons Continued from page 1 proximately two weeks while the latex, with "helium hold," will last two to three days. One florist said their most call is for one "mylar" and three latex balloons. These are attached to a live flower such as a carnation or rose, a small planter -- or often, a small stuffed animal. "We have things they can purchase pur-chase to tie them to or some people bring their own in," she said. This is often a candy bar or a small bag of candy. Some people even decorate an ordinary garden-variety rock with foil and use it as a tie-down for the balloons. What you can use the balloons for is limited by only your imagination according to those who sell them. "No matter what the age of the person, everybody loves a balloon," says one florist, stating one day an elderly woman came in the shop, saw the balloon display and commented com-mented "I hope someone gives me a balloon for my birthday, I've never had one." Balloons have been used as the backdrop for a wedding, to show appreciation for teachers, as get-well get-well messages, as congratulations, to decorate for high school reunions, and to say "welcome home" to a missionary at the airport. One teenager is said to have bought a balloon, filled it with several rolled notes asking his girl to the dance then had it filled with helium. After the girl broke the balloon and read all the notes, he reportedly gave her the "real" invitation in-vitation on a note in his pocket. Another brave man put a diamond ring for his girl in the helium filled sphere. On another occasion, a man came into a floral shop saying he had just had a fight with his wife and wanted a balloon bouquet - with most of the balloons blue so she would know how he felt. The recent basketball tourneys were popular times for balloons with school colors (such as Americar Fork's red-and-white, Lehi's purple and-white and Pleasant Grove's blue-and-white) requested ir abundance. Balloon bouquets are often sent t individuals in offices, it wa! reported - especially on birthdays. "Nobody wants to announce theii birthday but they don't mind i somebody else brings attention to i and a balloon bouquet might be thi way to do it," one individua laughed, purchasing just such i bouquet. Whatever the occasion - whethe to say "thank you," to chee someone - or yourself - up or fo decorations, balloons appear to b the way to doit. At least locally! Have you received - or sent -balloon yourself yet? |