A dilemna

[cjbfisher]

Guys,
I need some help.
Recently, I lost a friend, and on Sunday it would have been his birthday. As a memorial (for want of a better word), his wife wants to go down to the local foreshore, and release a bunch of helium filled balloons.
Now, for those of you who don't realise, when the balloons finally come back down and land in the water, they start to break apart and resemble a jellyfish. Then marine animals that feast on jellyfish eat them, and because they can't be digested, the animal suffers a long and agonising death.
My dilemna is, how do I respectfully ask his wife to consider some alternative gesture instead of the balloons, without causing any unneccessary angst?
Thanks for your help.
Chris

[lizard]

Another thing to remember aircraft don't like them either . Think there a ruling about helium filled balloons kites ect near air fields


The truth is some times the best way

[ArWeTherYet]

Sorry for your loss.

Butterfly's sure are pwretty. http://www.butterflyreleases.com.au/abo ... neral.html

[Barrabundy]

Oooh, that's a tough one. Without knowing anyone involved, I reckon tackling that might be fraught with danger. Like I said, I don't know anyone involved but am trying to think about what anyone I know would think if something like that was suggested to them.

I'm not saying you shouldn't say anything, only you know how strongly you feel about this and how your relationship with his wife is. Most people I know would probably probably listen to what you had to say and just go ahead and do what they were planning anyway, regardless of whether they were offended or not.

Dunno, maybe others have better ideas of these people things, not my forte, just telling it how I imagine it would be like with anyone I know that well.

[Batron]

Chris . Sorry for your loss.
I think the truth is the best approach. explain your concern. and suggest some alternatives.

[nezevic]

Most of the info i can find suggests the balloons shatter at high altitude and it is more the strings that are the issue... http://www.balloonhq.com/faq/deco_releases.html this is one site albeit with a vested interest.

[koich]

If the foreshore is chosen because your mates significant bond with that particular waterway; the truth and tie it in with that.

[kraley]

My advice is to grin and bear it. Not much good can come from your well intentioned intervention with the grief still so fresh.

Hopefully she uses a professional, licensed company - that will truthfully minimise the environmental impact.

In the end - she is entitled to remember him in any (legal) way she desires....

[koich]

Pretty much.

You're a brave man if you go down that road.

[Yakaway]

Sorry about your loss old mate! Have just been through the same thing, I just lost a mate cum bro. If it was me I'd just tell her what you are feeling, be up front. As a suggestion have you any local pidgin racers in your area? You could release the pidgins. Once again sorry for your loss. Peter.

[rob316]

Chris, you must have been a black cat born under a ladder in another life, chin up mate and hope all turns for the best sometime soon...but I say "release the balloons", it's silly how such a simple gesture can help release a lot of tension, anger and anxiety...chances are it will do more harm to suggest otherwise than it will to any marine life, and write your mate a message on one in felt pen and hope it makes it up to him...cheers, Rob

[dru]

My advice is to grin and bear it. Not much good can come from your well intentioned intervention with the grief still so fresh.

Hopefully she uses a professional, licensed company - that will truthfully minimise the environmental impact.

In the end - she is entitled to remember him in any (legal) way she desires....

Utterly x2. The world will cope.

However, AWTY might just be on to something. Major sad for your loss.

[sam60]

A little left field..... How about the Mini hot air balloons..... I have seen them on tv and normally launched at dusk. Might satisfy any environmental issues and maybe a message could be included.

[cjbfisher]

Thanks guys,
I think I'll just let it be.
Chris

[Physhopath]

I think that's best, the grieving process will go on for a while, perhaps you can do a more environmentally friendly thing the next anniversary.
Been to four funerals this year, ( I am in my forties), they do not get easier