Putting a New Twist on Things at the Local Library

Early last Thursday morning, the parking lot at the Grand Terrace Branch Library was full of locals ready to learn. Moms and dads, with small children in tow, hurried towards the long line waiting at the entrance of the community room near the library's entrance. Outside the room there was noisy chaos and the frenetic energy of children everywhere. As soon as the crowd crossed the door's threshold, there was a silent energy that almost shocked the senses. Children scurried to the front of the room. Parents found seats wherever they could, craning their necks to watch as an energetic man dressed in a vaudevillian looking black suit complete with bow tie worked at silently tangling balloons into the shape of a palm tree. “He’s everyone’s favorite,” said Library Assistant Jennifer Palma. “Every time he comes, it’s packed.” The room was overflowing with families who had come to watch the Buster Balloon Show, courtesy of the Friends of the Library and the Summer Reading Program. While most have experienced balloon twisters at county fairs, school bazaars, restaurants or even birthday parties, none of those cute French poodles, flowers, giraffes or head pieces could prepare the audience for what Buster Balloon had to offer in the realm of balloon twisting. Breaking his silence, Buster begins his show with a quick set of rules. Balloon twisting can be dangerous, he explains, so there are designated areas where children cannot sit. Staring at him intently, the audience nodded in agreement as he gave a short history of balloon twisting and shared the basic steps of how to successfully blow up the balloons. Buster then made two balloon animals at the same time, one in each hand. As he works through his routine, Buster explains that he read about balloon twisting in books he had gotten from the local library in his home town as a child. “I was obsessed with reading as a kid,” Buster shared, “I used to visit four libraries at the same time. I found I could go all over the world in my imagination because of books. But now, because of learning about balloon twisting through reading, I have traveled all over the world for real. I’ve been to Japan, Amsterdam, Korea, Belgium, and I’ve even appeared at the White House twice!” Asking for help from an adult audience member, Buster picked Marcy Marak, a parent, who helped him don a straight jacket. While he was working at escaping from the straight jacket, he somehow inflated balloons and twisted them into a monkey for his palm tree creation. Afterwards, he presented the monkey and tree to Marak as a token of his appreciation for her assistance. Buster completed an intricate Space Alien balloon while blindfolded (complete with a laser gun) and his finale included becoming engulfed in a very large over-sized ‘whoopee cushion’ of a balloon. Looking like he had gotten caught in a huge blown up wad of yellow bubble gum, the children howled with laughter when he eventually popped it and emerged unscathed and smiling. “Keep reading,” Buster told them, “And find some adventure all of your own!” You can find out about other Buster Balloon shows at BusterBalloon.com.