A Birthday Party in the Valley of Weeping
The helium-filled balloons we were carrying down to our dock for release were shriveling—helium molecules become more compact and inactive when exposed to cold. The temperature was below freezing, the wind was blowing hard, and the lake was icing over as well. Yet our family, wrapped in warm coats, gloves, and scarves, had made our way carefully to one of my grandson Garrett’s favorite places to send messages of love flying into the air. It was January 4—his 23rd birthday. …