The Meg Who Stole the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

A dream come true is usually something we all have at the forefront of our minds.  Maybe it is to win the lottery, to get the perfect job, to find your soul mate, to buy a home, or to open the next best children's bookstore. (Or maybe all of those??)  If you asked me at any moment what my dream come true would be I could tell you.  However, I recently had a dream come true that I didn't know I even had.

I know, I know, that sounds preposterous.  However, I assure you, it is not.  Two weeks ago I got an email that our school had been invited to participate in the Hollywood Christmas Parade.  They needed 23 adults to become official "Balloon Wranglers" for the Grinch balloon.   WHAT?!  How I could I not say no!?  I didn't even know I wanted to wrangle balloons but when it was set in front of me I knew I was destined for this very moment.

The job seemed easy.  We would hold a rope attached to a ginormous balloon version of the Grinch.  We would stroll down the red carpet, flanked by celebrities and marching bands, be announced by B-List celebrities, have our pictures taken, and then march around "the block," aka Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, until returning back to the start.

So that is just what I did tonight.  I think my face hurts from smiling so much.  Little kids squealed to see the big guy floating up there.  We waved and smiled and shared our wishes for lovely holidays.  *Sigh.  Pinch me?  Here are my blurry phone camera pictures.  My apologies for the quality.  I will be scouring the interwebs in the next few days for better photos.  There were a bajillion photographers out there so I am bound to show up in a few.

Getting ready!

We LOVE being Balloon Wranglers!

Our next door neighbor while we waited

Sitting on the Grinch's lap

The Hollywood Christmas Parade involves
balloons AND palm trees

It...is...official.  Although It would have
been nice to have the word "wrangler" on there

Oh!  If you want to see me strut my stuff on the red carpet, the parade will be aired on the Hallmark Channel on December 10 and December 21 from 6 to 8 pm.  You won't miss me.  I'm right in the front with a big ol' goofy grin on my face.