Sometimes All it Takes is a Balloon

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to hang out at the Millard County fair with my good friend, author Heather Justesen and her husband Bill, where we spent a lot of time talking to people and making hundreds of children smile.

Before you ask, we didn’t do a magic show or hypnosis (though, other people did). We didn’t sing or dance or otherwise entertain, either. But our efforts could be seen everywhere you looked.

We handed out helium balloons. For free.

And even though my hands are sore from tying strings and latex, I had a good time, because every single kid who came to our booth walked away with a smile. Lots of parents listened to us pitch and walked away with bookmarks, and some walked away with author-signed books. After two full-days of working (three for Heather and Bill) I broke even. Some would ask if it was worth it. Most authors would say no.

But I think it was. Making someone else smile is always worth a little effort. And a long drive.


Especially if that long drive is in a convertible, lying on the gas to try and beat the massive rainstorm blowing in behind me. (To the guys at the gas station who laughed and wished me luck—I did make it, thank you very much. Yet another reason for me to smile.)

Sometimes a smile is payment enough. For me, this was one of those times. Have you had an experience like this? Do share! What would you do to make a stranger smile?



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