Reflections on Mylar, Helium, and the Atmosphere, Part 1

My morning power walk takes me near the Sydney R. Marovitz municipal golf course, part of the Chicago Park District.  The course stretches between the bike path and Montrose Harbor, a scenic spot for golfers, bikers, joggers, walkers, and dog exercisers.  The chain link fence that separates the golf course from other traffic is painted black, so it’s barely visible; and this time of year, it’s draped with a cheery, orange-flowering vine I haven’t been able to identify (but which might be orange trumpet creeper). 

         Occasionally golfers appear by 6:00 AM, as early as the rest of us.  I can watch or at least listen to them tee off as I walk along, though I’m rarely in the right position to follow the ball’s trajectory.  Mowers appear also, roaring back and forth annoyingly.  But mostly the golf course simply presents a lush green savannah (though with short grass)—scenic and peaceful.

         However, yesterday, as I walked swiftly northward on my return trip, I spied, through the vine-draped fence, a shiny purple something lying on the bright green grass.  At first glance, it looked like a cast off backpack, or a down vest.  My mind struggled to match either object with golfers or grass trimmers.  But as I drew nearer, I recognized a purple, Mylar balloon, it’s “Happy Birthday” side down, its gleaming, blank purple back on display.

         Certainly, this balloon must have escaped its owner somewhere far away.  It must have risen high, high into the atmosphere, floated along, propelled by the wind.  Then, gradually exchanging its helium for plain old air, it must have drifted down, bouncing here and there among the tree tops, until it came to rest in the Marovitz municipal golf course in time for my Monday morning walk.

         I reflected on the difference between my childhood, when helium balloons (rubber, not Mylar) were a rare, magical treasure once a summer, and today’s dime-a-dozen ones.  I reflected on helium, the element, and on the earth’s atmosphere and the moon’s non-atmosphere, all which I will write about in my next couple of posts.