The Balloon Man
by Jeffrey Allen Federowicz
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The neon glow of carnival lights casts a brilliant hue of amber and gold into the night as a colorful balloon, floating gently on the end of a string, tugs at the little fingers that clutch it tightly. Eyes stare in amazement, studying the floating sphere that is swaying back and fourth in the breeze. |
Bill Smith is one of those people. For 22 years, Smith's dream and interest in balloons has been kept afloat with his own business, Smith Special Productions/Balloonworks, where he has created more than 400 whimsical balloons that have appeared in parades across the country and around the world. "While I was growing up, most kids wanted to be firemen," Smith said. "Most little girls in the neighborhood wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to make these huge, floating cartoon characters that I saw on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade."
Thanksgiving of 1975 was a special day for Smith, marking his first visit to view the Macy's parade in person, a tradition he has continued. In 2002, Smith became a balloon handler for the Macy's parade and has spent every Thanksgiving Day since helping to navigate the giant balloons to Macy's in Herald Square.
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