THE HORROR OF THE TUMBLING BOUNCE HOUSE

It was about five years ago in May when we visited our granddaughter, Jessica,  to celebrate her 6th birthday.  We took our adorable Maltese puppy, Mindy with us.  She was about three months old and an excellent traveler. We felt very fortunate  having her house trained so early.

 While my daughter in law was busy preparing for the birthday party, our son was helping with balloon blowing in the house. Sitting out side enjoying the beautiful weather,  my husband and I watched the man assemble and blow up the bounce house.  All children enjoy bouncing in it. 

My husband commented that one stake was not inserted into the ground because the bounce house was  mostly on the lawn and partly on the street.  The property was not level, as he tried to do the best he could.  "I do not think this is secure"  my husband said to the man, as he was concerned that the day might get too windy.  He assured us that he knew what he was doing and it would be okay to leave one rope  unsecured in the ground.  He had a huge gasoline driven inflating machine over the unsecured rope holding it down in place.

It was wonderful watching the children arrive with their colorful wrapped presents.  They immediately removed their shoes and went on line to jump in the bounce house.  "Only 6 children under a certain weight" the man said.  So everyone had to take turns going into the house.  We felt good about his rules.

Sitting outside watching the children having fun was amusing.  Mindy was tied up to the camping chair and we enjoyed the beautiful weather.  How wonderful it felt.  Coming from Florida where the humidity was high  it seemed like we lived  in a bubble. The strong sun and cool breeze felt good flowing through me that day  The fresh air was exhilarating, making me doze off.

Suddenly  a strong gust of wind came in.  I was awoken by Mindy's barking, which was the first time I heard her bark so loud.  I could not believe my eyes and thought I was still sleeping with a bad dream.  The bounce house was rolling over the cars and pickup trucks. Tumbling like a wheel with the wind pushing the wheel.  "Oh my God" I yelled.  "The children are in the bounce house.  Somebody help me catch the house."  I ran as fast as I could trying to catch it  preventing it from tumbling further down the street.  But it was a giant house with the  heavy  gas  blower machine attached to the ropes.  All I could think of was the poor children tumbling like clothes in a washing machine but without suds. 

 "Could they survive"  Where are all the neighbors  who were just outside?" I cried,  as I was running to catch it.  But I fell flat on my stomach and was screaming.  It was amazing I did not get a heart attack at that moment.  I worried about the children being injured or killed. And what if there were children playng in the street.  The bounce house would have killed them for sure, expecially with the heavy attached machine flying through the air, hitting the vehicles.

One of the parents came over to help me stand up. While wiping my tears, he said.  "Don't worry,"  The children are in the house having birthday cake.  They are safe.  " You were sleeping so peacefully, no one wanted to wake you"  My daughter in law was busy with the party,  and was unaware that I was napping outside.  My husband was inside taking video pictures.

While I was sleeping, the wind started up just after the children went into the house to continue with the birthday party.

The question in my mind was, what would have happened if the six children were in the bounce house when the gust of wind uprooted the bounce house?  Would their little weight hold the house down, or would they have tumbled?  

After researching in Google,  I learned other  bounce houses broke loose as well.  Unfortunately those incidents were too numerous to mention, including lots of injuries.

 In my humble opinion, please don't allow your kids to enter one if it is not on level ground.   Check to see that all the stakes around the house are secured in the ground.  Make sure the weather is calm with no wind.

Now that the cold weather is behind us, many out door birthday parties will take place.  Bounce houses have become very popular and I urge every one to be cautious with your children.

Did you or anyone else you know had similar experiences?  Please comment.  If you are having a hard time with the comment box,  I will be happy to publish it for you if you email your comment to

iris@pushthewheel.com
What do you think?

MY UNFORGETTABLE SHIVA CALL

A few years ago, we learned about an unfortunate death of a grown son of one of our neighbors, living in our adult community.  Although I knew the family casually and was in their home only once, I thought it would be nice to pay my respect by visiting them.

My dear friend and neighbor wanted to accompany me.  We agreed to meet out side to walk to their house which was around the corner. As we were walking I told my friend that I had to go back to my house to get the address.  Since I was only their once, I wanted to make sure we knew where we were going.

My friend advised me that it was not necessary, since it was only around the corner.  “If we see a lot of cars, then we know where at the right house,” she said.  “But, what if we walk into the wrong house and someone pulls out a gun on us thinking we are intruders" I argued. She giggled and said not to worry "It is not a good idea.” My friend suggested, “we will open the door slowly, and if we see people, then we are in the right house” Seemed logical, but scary. she giggled and said” don’t worry.” The fuss was because it was not appropriate to ring the door bell when one makes a Shiva Call.  You must open the door yourself and walk in

When we approached the house, I nervously but slowly opened the door.  I saw bridge chairs lined up in a circle.  Recognizing some friendly neighbors, I felt assured it was the right place and motioned my friend to come in,  We eye greeted the ones we knew, and a lady whom we did not know came over to us to say she was a close friend of the family. Then a gentleman came out of the bedroom to acknowledge we were there.  I went over to him and expressed my sympathy over his loss.  He thanked me for coming.  I asked, “Where is your wife” as I wanted to express my sympathy to her as well.  “My wife is dead” he cried. “Oh my God, when did she die” I cried.  No one told me and that kind of news would have traveled fast. Perhaps she died of a heart attack because of the death of her son.  Wild thoughts came into mind.  The gentleman scratched his head with disbelief.  A neighbor came over to us and whispered that we were in the wrong Shiva house.  The one we were to go to was a few doors down. “But there were no cars there, I cried, silently” The room was spinning. My friend and I looked at each other and motioned to leave.  Difficult to control ourselves with this embarrassment, we backed out of the house quietly and left,  When the door was closed and we were safely our on the lawn, we cracked up, holding each other from falling down.  We were hysterical crying. and laughing at the same time  I wanted to kill my friend for not allowing me to get the right address, although her logic was not a bad one,

The hour was getting late and we had to straighten up to compose ourselves.  We still needed to pay the Shiva Call.  We waited awhile until the tears vanished from our eyes. We continued to walk to the next house.  “No cars were there.  How can that be a Shiva House?” we said.  We opened the door ever so slowly.  No chairs were lined up in the living room. There were no visitors except one of our very dear friends  sitting beside the mourner, the mother who lost her son.  We sat down beside the women still trying so hard to hide our emotions.  I had asked the woman how her son died.  She escorted me into another room to tell me her story privately.  I guess she did not want to repeat it again to her other visitor.  While listening with sadness, we heard hysterical laughter coming from the other room.  I figured my friend told our other friend what happened.  But the curious look on the face of the neighbor in morning made me tell her what happened.  “I hope you do not mind me telling you an embarrassing moment a few minutes ago.  I do not want you to think they are laughing because of you.” She replied “Please tell me, I can use a good laugh.”  After the story was told, she broke into laughter and thanked me for changing her mood for a little while.

What are the chances of two Shiva Calls on the same block at the same time?.

Do you have a story?  Please click on the comment box.  Would love to read it.

A FUNNY STORY ABOUT MY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IN COSTCO

Shopping at Costco last week was an unbelievable experience.  Among my purchases was a ready made barbequed chicken which was no where to be found . Unaware that I left it behind, I realized it missing when I was about to prepare my dinner for the evening.  After looking in my refrigerator, and the trunk of my car, I asked my husband if he saw it. He told me that if I do not find it soon, the chicken will find me.  (the odor)

I called the manager of Costco and complained my chicken was missing from my groceries.  He told me that a chicken was left in a wagon in the parking lot and someone returned it to the store.  I explained that it never happened to me before as I was always careful not to leave anything behind,  I have heard that people accidentally leave their purses behind because they leave it in the wagon when they shop. I never thought that I would be the one to leave food behind.

"Don't worry," the manager said.  "Just come in with your receipt and we will give you a new chicken."  What a wonderful store Costco is.  I just love shopping there.

That evening I looked for my receipt and could not find it.  I am usually very good with keeping my receipts.  Perhaps this is a comedy of errors. I called Costco the next day and explained my mysterious receipt was missing.  "That's okay" he said, "just come to the counter by the hot dog stand, and we will honor you with another chicken.  Just bring in your Costco card."

The following day Florida had its first cold spell. It was very much welcomed as the hot season in Florida was starting to get on my nerves.  I dressed in my new warm red velour outfit and drove back to Costco.  Here is the experience that exasperated me.

I took the wagon before entering the store as I intended to purchase a few more things.  No one goes to Costco for just one thing.  I noticed the store was mobbed with people.  I guess the snowbirds  finally arrived.   I went to the desk where the manager told me to go.  A nice lady asked for my Costco card and said "are you going to buy anything else?"  I should have answered no and just have gotten a credit, but I did say I wanted another chicken. "Go to the register when you finish shopping" she said.  "Just tell the cashier that you do not have to pay for it and to have her wave to me. I will approve it."  I thought that was a little odd because they usually give a credit or cash and be done with it.  It seemed like such a hassle, I thought.

When my shopping was complete, I went to the register and told the cashier  I was not to pay for the chicken and to please wave to the lady at the desk. "HEY, CATHY" he yelled out loud. "This lady  in red says she don't want to pay for the chicken." I did not say that to him in that way and I became embarrassed because there was a line behind me "Let the lady in red go, she does not have to pay for the chicken," she yelled back.  I was really getting upset because of spectacle that was being created.  Just as I left the cashier I heard the lady say on her loud speaker to the guy who checks out the receipts before customers are allowed to leave the store, which is standard procedure "The lady in red did not pay for the chicken,  let her go."  The young man with his magic marker in his hand was goofing off with the person in front of me and did not pay attention to the loud speaker. He carefully checked my items and noticed one chicken was not paid for. "Hey lady," he said "you did not pay for the chicken."  I answered,  "If you were not goofing off, you would have heard her tell you on the loud speaker that I did not have to pay for it." At that point, he picked up his microphone and announced "Hey Cathy, there is a lady here in red that did not pay for the chicken." Then the voice over the loud speaker said "Let the lady in red go.  She does not have to pay for the chicken." By the time I got into my car I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry,  I never experienced anything like it.  I do not think I will ever complain to Costco again for missing items, and I will never shop in red.

 At the time I did not think it was funny until I told my friends who were rolling on the floor with laughter.  ROFL

Did this ever happen to you?