When I was small, balloons weren’t very common. Don’t get me wrong, they were really popular with kids, but you don’t see them as often as you do these days.
Those days, balloons were filled with helium, simple fact is that helium, being lighter than air, would cause the balloon to float up by itself, so you would have to hold it by a string to prevent it from floating away into outer space. I’m thinking they use helium because it cheaper than hydrogen, and hydrogen would be freaking dangerous once it is exposed to the atmosphere whenever the balloon pops. And with every 10 kids, 7 of them would most likely pop the balloon within 7 minutes of laying their hands on them.
But whoa, imagine the fun when you light the hydrogen with a cigarette lighter…
Back then, we only got balloons during fun fairs, circuses, or sometimes it was sold at the street corner. The thing to remember about helium balloons, you have to hold on tight to the string affixed the aforementioned balloon. If you let go, the balloon will float away to the moon’s atmosphere in 2.4 hours.
Here’s the thing about kids. 8 out of 10 kids will accidentally lose the freaking balloon at the first sight of an ice-cream man. Then the kid will throw a tantrum (about the balloon, not the ice-cream. Well not yet, anyway). Then 8.5 parents will be forced to buy another helium balloon to keep the screaming kid quiet.
In business, this is called return customers.
Anyway, like I said, you don’t get helium (or hydrogen) balloons anymore. One day, some smart guy said, hey, why don’t instead of getting an expensive and cumbersome tank of helium, I get a plastic stick and fix the balloon at the end? Then when the gullible kids, holds it up, it will SEEM like its floating, but in actual fact, it’s just filled with normal air. I’m a genius!
So that’s what you get nowadays. And without the need of helium, balloons have become commonplace. Every weekend, at every event, everywhere, they’re giving them out. This morning my daughters got a pair from this promoter wearing a miniskirt and a boob tube (thankfully, it was a female promoter wearing the aforesaid skirt and tube). I can’t even recall what they were promoting.
So what we have is dozens of those sticks and plastic holders where they fix the balloon. All lying around all over the house.
My friend uses them to spank his kids when they raise hell.
Ergo, I wonder if his kids are still keen to accept free balloons. Even if they are wearing miniskirts and boob tubes.
14 Comments
Jee
Well the balloons on the stick are never the same as the flying helium balloons.
Even my 2 years old nephew knows that, whenever we are back to my hometown he sure wants to buy a few balloons.. yes they still use helium and it floats.
lilian
Agree agree, that stick dem good to leave a few smacks on the bottom. But I am a reform now, so don’t do that anymore.
mama23beas
Eh, how come you never mention anything about those balloons that come in various shapes:ant, earoplane, dog etc, formed with a few balloons. And they float high up and cost from RM2-6 depending on the ‘design’. Whenever we past pasar malam near our house, kids will go ‘nak belon, nak belon’ *sigh*
yuin
When I saw the title I thought the post would be along the lines of getting kids because someone forgot to use a ballon…
Lian
The stick is useful when you need to get stuff from under the chair or cupboards. My son converts it into an imaginary gun or guitar. They can double up as light sabers as well. Balloon may be gone but the fun continues on.
By the way, we had helium balloons at my brother’s wedding. It was outdoors and we were suppose to let it go when they walk in. Yeah, like the kids are gonna let it go on purpose.
simon
jee – really? i haven’t seen a helium balloon for years.
lilian – wah, u last time very garang one hor? 🙂
mama23beas – wah, those really cekik you one la. RM2-6 konon, after one day it kempis oredi…
yuin – that kind of balloon kenot blow up one… i’m sure someone has tried!
Lian – did you guys swallow the helium and speak like donald duck after the wedding? that’s always fun!
Ken
gone were the days… I mean balloons…
buaya69
actually, helium is MORE expensive than hydrogen. it’s normally a little hydrogen + air in those balloons, thus not so dangerous. hydrogen is smaller molecule size hence that’s why on the next day, you will notice that the balloon has deflated and does not float anymore, coz the H has seeped through the walls of the balloon. muahahahar!
simon
ken – 🙂
buaya69 – wah, you also give part time science tuition ka?
Geetha
Same as mama23beas, I also have to get balloons at the pasar malam.
Trying to be clever, we brought our own balloon to the pasar malam (we have a big collection at home, always).
Upon spotting the balloon seller, #1 gives the balloon to #2, and said he wants ‘that’ balloon. Arrrgghh! IT didn’t work. We still had to get the balloon.
Yeah, that shaped balloons don’t lasts as long as teh normal ones..
maria @ twinsmom
you remind me of the balloon I had recieved in the then newly open KFC in Jalan Kuchai Lama (now the KFC is no longer there).
I remember it was orange red colour, and the shape like a tomato, I miss it.
Guess that time not many entertainment and toys, so that was the best.
mahagurusia
Can I have the two balloons miss?
simon
Geetha – maybe you should have brought TWO balloons!
maria – my daughter also has a silver Mickey Mouse balloon… lasted quite a long while!
simon
mahagurusia – sorry only for kids ah?