Helium Balloons

I saw my first falling star only about 12 months ago. I thought that it was all a load of codswallop actually. I mean, in my many many years on this planet, I had never seen one. What was everyone talking about... but I saw one and I felt so special. It was so fast, so fleeting, so private. I wonder how many other people saw that very same falling star as me?

Anyway, I had a thought this morning. I know we shouldn't let helium balloons go up into the air (space garbage or what have you) but sometimes it is just so important to let a balloon go up into the air until you can't see it any more... especially when you are 8, or even 10? Sometimes even 39.

So I got to thinking, and I thought, out of all the millions of balloons that must be let go of every year, I have NEVER just been standing there and had a piece of popped balloon land on me on its descent back to earth. Have you? Do you know anyone who has? I mean, you would think the place would be littered with pieces of coloured rubber, wouldn't you? But there aren't that many bits of balloon lying around that I can see. I mean, what are the chances of it happening? Obviously not much. But I still wonder about it...

I'm going to keep my eyes peeled. I'll let you know.