This balloon marked one of my most memorable childhood birthdays even though I don’t recall how old I was turning. My mum and brother were away in Hong Kong for some reason and so my dad celebrated with me. Before I headed off to school that morning, he gave me this balloon with my name on it. My name! Six metallic letter stickers stuck on a mylar balloon was all it was but I was ecstatic as my name is not one found on items. Ever. Not on keychains, pencils, stickers, magnets, tiny license plates... you know, the important stuff to kids. I still have the balloon, folded up neatly in a shoebox with other things I’m unable to part with like folded handwritten gems of notes from elementary, middle and high school ; ).
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