Goodbye Balloon (A Memory Triggered by Josh Groban)

I'm listening to Josh Groban right now. Yeah, I know. I love him, too. I'm listening to one song in particular. It is entitled, "You Raise Me Up." I first heard it on Oprah, but that's not the point of this blog entry (though, I do love Oprah, too.) No, this song triggered a distict memory--a memory of love, binding friendship, and then death, sorrow, but yet a memory of hope. Allow me to elaborate...

There was a balloon. And there was Bryce. The two had met their perfect match in eachother. They were like two peas in a pod. Where balloon went, Bryce followed. And subsequently, where Bryce went, Balloon dragged along behind, bouncing on the floor with every little toddler step my little brother took. They were truly smitten with eachother. So you get the idea that Bryce did indeed love Balloon, and Balloon graciously accepted his love with every bounce and thud.

Enter the tragedy

We were on our way to Portland, and Balloon, of course, was accompanying us. Balloon was in fact sitting next to Bryce. Suddenly, however, Bryce rolled down his window. Being on the freeway, the gush of wind from the window sent Balloon flying out of the car. In all its glory, Balloon shot out from the seat and soared into the sky, not even able to wave a goodbye - it was powerless without arms. And like that, the friendship was broken. No more walks with it on its string. No more bouncing on the hardwood floor. No more keep-a-way. In a blink of an eye Balloon was gone. And Bryce was devastated.

His face displayed the shock he felt in losing the best friend he had found in Balloon. Then, just as quickly as the balloon left his life, Bryce's face crumpled and the tears began to fall. Niagra Falls couldn't have competed. This kid was at the lowest state of sadness. In fact, he was beyond sad. He was without hope. He was without a will to live. He was nothing without Balloon.

Well, being the comforting and supportive family we are to eachother, I took matters into my own hands. "Bryce," I said. "You and balloon had a good life together. Let's pay tribute to that beautiful friendship and love." Then I reached for the CD player and turned up the volume to this Josh Groban song. With the windows rolled down as we rolled down the freeway, we blasted this music and Bryce waillllllllllllled along with it, seeming to wail even louder as the music's chours picked up. Here are the lyrics. Picture this scene which I have just talked about as you read the song:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary; When troubles come and my heart burdened be; Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be. There is no life - no life without its hunger; Each restless heart beats so imperfectly; But when you come and I am filled with wonder, Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be.You raise me up: To more than I can be.