I really think Balloons saved my life

So it's my son's 2nd birthday (he's grown a year older since my last post 10 minutes ago). I'm in Houston at the time expecting my 2nd baby with the toddler in tow.  I set out planning his school shindig.

• Cheese Pizza
• Juice boxes
• Cookies (Jake & the never land pirates and Mickey Mouse Club House themed) I couldn't decide so I did both
• Bubble machine - utterly random choice and eventual hit
• and of course BALLOONS my new found family tradition.

So off I go to the local balloon store and I place an order for what seemed like a million balloons (my indecision  almost always leads to excess) and I continue with the Jake & Mickey Mouse Club House mixed theme. I got my Jake Airwalker (that got decapitated shortly after) and bouquets of Mickey Balloons.

Only  to arrive at my tiny rental and they wouldn't quite fit in. As in the car was stuffed, front passenger seat, rear seats as in  I had no rear view. I was certain I would get pulled over by the police and fingers crossed was counting on my bump to get me off easy.

Well its almost time for the party and I needed to get my nails and make up done before party time, so I drive to Walmart for my pedicure. I rush back to the car only to do the so familiar routine that most women can relate with, digging though my bag for keys that just evade you (i'm at it for a bit) and the some man walks up to me. 

He is polite, he's holding a gas can and trying to get my attention. Call me gullible, but I tend not to have a guard up and will talk to anyone (I believe in treating every one equally and with dignity) so he asks whether I mind giving him a ride to the gas station. He's  run out of fuel and stranded and the next gas station is quite far away. It is sweltering hot and I began to take in the story and actually consider giving this total stranger in a far away land where no one knows me a ride. In fact my head had said yes, but my eyes see the stuffed car (filled with balloons) so in my most apologetic voice I  explain (like an American who can tell a stranger their life's history in a minute) that its my son's birthday and the car is packed and much as I would love to it is impossible for me to help him.

Without a thought, I'm off to make up and the party where the Ballons were a hit and the kids had a wonderful time. The "million" balloons were tethered to the cookies for the kids to take home (all of a sudden the million just reduced to 20). 

So later that day I'm telling my host about my encounter with the stranger outside Walmart and she screams. She's like do you know what could have happened to you. Then I get a lecture on serial killers targeting vulnerable women which scared the living daylight out of me. Whether he was a killer or not I don't know, but this I know that if he was and I did not have my balloons this would be a totally different story (or non-story).

Thanks Balloons and ................................................kids, please don't trust strangers!!!!!