Balloon Man
The Red Balloon has its charms, but its a dangerous fantasy people! Recent example: the Roman Catholic priest who went missing in seas off Brazil after lifting off in a pile of helium balloons. His story reminds me of Larry Walters, the man who infamously piloted a lawnchair rigged with 42 balloons 16,000 feet over Long Beach in 1982. It had been a lifelong dream, and once it was reached, there was nothing left to look forward to. He killed himself in 1993.

bridget carpenter wrote a play about (or, i guess more accurately, inspired by) larry walters called UP. i work at steppenwolf theatre company and we're doing it next season. it's pretty great.
Posted by:joy | Apr 29, 2008 at 09:56 PM