In my time afield, I have literally walked thousands of miles in the woods. It never ceases to amaze me how far into nearly untouched wilderness you can find garbage. In many cases I have been so deep into uninhabited areas, that you expect to see nothing, yet out pops a Mylar balloon.
Nearly every outdoorperson I know has found at least a few balloons in the woods. People like myself that spend most of their free time outdoors, tend to find many a year. We all have complained amongst ourselves, but social media has helped bring the problem mainstream. Those that ask “why” are not likely outdoorspeople, or are those that have been sucked into the customary practice of polluting the world in someone’s memory.
I have been fortunate to have friends that stand up against the ridiculous practice of sending garbage airborne. Everyone I know is against the practice, but there are those that don't see the byproduct of such an idiotic tradition. The fact is, if you don't see the environmental impact, it's easier to ignore its existence. I have been planning on writing a column on the topic, and had an experience this week that forced me to do so.
I have been dating my middle school sweetheart for over a year and a half now. We separated as kids and reconnected after over 20 years. She was living in Ohio, so a lot of trips back and forth have been made. Over the winter I stayed there for two months. I spent most of my time while she was at work walking the metro parks looking for deer sheds. I hiked well over 100 miles and recovered 11 sheds. Sheds are hard to find, but if you look hard enough, they can be picked up. In my travels I picked up several bags of garbage, which were mostly composed of water, soda, and energy drink bottles and cans, with the occasional candy or snack wrapper and potato chip bag mixed in. I expect to see this kind of trash on the side of the road, but it burns me to see it in the woods. Even worse was the 15 Mylar balloons that I found. Seriously how is it possible to have found more flying garbage than I found sheds? The deer live in the woods and this area protects them, so they are heavy in numbers in comparison to here. You would not expect to find more balloons unless the problem is bigger than people have reported.
This past weekend was the big move, so she and I packed a trailer, loaded up a car full of cats, and headed for New York. We barely got on the road, when this week’s column presented itself. We had just entered the city of Columbus when I saw a sign stating that you will receive a $500 fine for littering on the highway. Ironically, in the background of the sign rising into the beautiful blue sky, were two balloons. It infuriated me as to how stupid it is to let customs interfere with environmentally friendly practices.
Balloons are garbage and pollution, and need to be accepted as such. Every time you mention this to someone that is clearly confused about the topic, they pull the memory card. They say something like, “They do it to remember a loved one, or carry their prayers heaven bound.”
Even police buy into this. Pictures are for memories, and I promise the balloons don't make it to heaven, unless you consider heaven to be a pristine environment like myself! Then I can assure you, that your stupid balloon will make it to my heaven.
I can pretty much bet you could stand in front of the “do not litter sign”and release balloons with a cop watching you, and receive no penalties. Now throw a coffee cup down, and see what happens. So what's the difference? It's that people place some meaning behind the balloon so that no one wants to punish anyone for it. This is absolute lunacy! Try to tell the cop you dumped the cup in your father’s memory because he loved coffee and threw his garbage out the car window. You will be signing a ticket, whether it meant something special to you or not.
My friends, John and Carrie Nixon, spend as much or more time afield than myself. Carrie was so disturbed by the flying trash that she decided to write a letter to the editor and asked the opinions of others on the topic. It was written so well and contained so much heart and feeling, I felt it important to make mention of it. I liked it so much, I hope everyone gets to read it soon.
The Nixons post pictures of their recovered balloons and find about 20 per year. I'm on number 13 in New York already, and expect to locate many more while preparing my lease for this upcoming deer season. Please spread the word, bubbles take prayers skyward, too, and planting a tree is a much more respectful way of remembering a loved one.
In the past, people would set a wooden bowl or stick adrift. Native people believed smoke carried messages to those who had passed. Think to yourself, if you asked the loved one who has passed, if they would rather you create pollution in their honor, or clean it up? The majority would rather see some garbage collection, than any form of production. So I challenge everyone: Rather than let a balloon go in honor of their loved one, collect a big bag of outdoor garbage and send it to garbage heaven – better known as the dump.
Good wishes and remember to respect our environment as much as our loved ones that have passed!