Citizen's dinner maintains a successful air

From time to time, some of us business people joke about trading businesses for a day.

It would give us insight into some of the problems our neighbors face, and it would give patrons a lift to see new faces behind the counters.

If that ever does come to pass, I know one business where I won’t be welcome: the flower shop across the street.

The lady who owns the shop is a dear friend, and while she’d be too kind to say it, I know she would shudder at the thought of me trying to run her shop for an hour let alone a whole day.

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I can’t tie a bow. My Christmas cactus blooms in February. I’m known as the serial killer of the plant world.

The crowning touch came last Saturday afternoon. We were setting up the Legion Hall for the Citizen of the Year dinner.

She was putting helium-filled balloons into the table centerpieces. I decided to help.

The balloons were all in bags turned upside down. They were hard to get out.

Nobody told me why the bags were upside down. I found out.

A hint: don’t ever, ever, ever turn a bag full of helium-filled balloons right side up.

It may seem like a good idea, that it will be easier to get the pesky things out. It will be easier.

In fact, you won’t have to do anything. The balloons will take on a life of their own.

They will spurt from the bag and head for the ceiling. Not gently, but as if pursued by the Hounds of Hell.

Everyone screamed, but no one was fast enough to catch even one balloon. There we stood, looking helplessly at our centerpieces wafting gently out of reach.

My friend from the Flower Shop was kind. She didn’t say a word. Grandchildren were dispatched to the shop for a spray bottle of water. We got out the ladder.

She climbed the ladder and sprayed the balloons to make them come down. They didn’t. She managed to grab a few; her taller son-in-law arrived and he was able to nab the rest. We were back in business.

The balloons were a lovely finishing touch for a lovely evening of honoring our 1998 Citizen of the Year.

The master of ceremonies said the news media would doubt that, given the reported farm income situation, a crowd like this could get together in Saskatchewan “with smiles on our faces.”

We’ll prove them wrong as we celebrate the accomplishments of one of our own, he said.

We did indeed.

My friend from the flower shop even smiled at me!