As soon as my parents heard the news that my best friend Alayna was engaged, they decided they would definitely be going to her wedding.

WE ARE SO THERE! exclaimed my mother.

This is prior to receiving an invitation, of course.

My father was still in his wheelchair then, unable to walk due to some cement in his hip from a botched surgery.

“Hm,” he said looking at the calendar. “JULY? I CAN BE STANDIN’ UP DANCIN’ IN NASHVILLE IN JULY.”

And he was.

And thus it was settled.

The Dlugs were going down South.

My parents and I booked our flights together so we could all fly out at the same time. It was a late flight on Thursday and my boyfriend and I rushed to the airport separately and met up with my parents who were sitting patiently at the gate, having arrived twelve hours beforehand as is my father’s custom to show up painstakingly early to everything lest the airline decide just to mess with you intentionally and take off hours and hours before they say they will.

Oh wait, you never heard of them doing that?

Funny. Neither have I.

My dad perked up as soon as he saw us.

GUESS WHAT? he asked.

YOUR MUTHA AND I SHOWED UP HERE AND GUESS WHAT WE FOUND ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH OUR SEATS? A SNICKERS BAR AND A BOTTLE OF WATA!!!

I’m sorry. What?

WE FOUND A CANDY BAR! WRAPPED AND EVERYTHING! JUST SITTIN’ DERE!

That’s great?

SO WE ATE IT, he proudly declared.

Hold. Up.

You found candy and water just sitting under your filthy seat at one of the many American Airlines gates at LaGuardia airport and you weren’t like oh maybe I should throw this out, you were all FREE FOOD?

Of course. Just. Of course.

I SAVED THE WATA THOUGH, my dad continued. IN CASE YOU WANT IT.

I’m good, I said.

I sat down next to him and moved one of his bags to the side with my foot.

HEY HEY WATCH THAT ONE, he said. DAT’S MY BALLOON BAG.

You didn’t.

I DID. I’M GONNA MAKE ALAYNA SOME BALLOONS.

And here is where I confirm what you may or may not have known, that my father is a professional balloonist.

When I was in high school, my dad got super into the clown ministry at church which should’ve possibly been weird but wasn’t because my dad has sort of always been a goofball. At any rate, before you knew it, he was dressing up in a purple wig and putting on skits for the children’s Vacation Bible School and at 14 years old I wanted to just die of mortification but I couldn’t because my dad is adorable and HE IS DRESSED UP LIKE A CLOWN IN CHURCH COME ON NOW.

Pretty soon, my dad became obsessed with all things clown. He ordered a clown costume from a catalog (blue wig this time, no red nose, he painted that on himself with face paint, blue orange and yellow polka dot pants, etc.) and started watching VHS tapes of magic tricks and how to twist balloon animals and thus, a star was born in the name of one Floppy The Clown, named after the floppy disk of course because my dad is a nerd.

And also has a doctorate in education and published eight books.

BUT DID YOU KNOW HE BALLOON TWISTS???

Because that is his proudest accomplishment.

When he heard Alayna was getting married, he packed his bags for Nashville and yes indeed, that included his BALLOON BAG! full of balloons and an air pump because, what? Try and tell me you don’t do the same.

Within the first few minutes of Alayna’s wedding reception, my dad took in the scene.

LAWRA, YOU TINK DOSE KIDS MIGHT WANT A BALLOON?

It’s definitely possible, dad.

YOU TINK I SHOULD GO GET MY BAG FROM THE CAR?

GO FOR IT, DAD.

So dad got his balloon bag.

And he stood in a corner at the reception while everyone mingled and soon had a line of children and adults waiting patiently for a balloon animal.

Throughout the course of the evening, flashes of color would appear, balloons somewhat magically drifting throughout the wedding. A green flower on someone’s table, a wide-eyed ladybug on a wrist, a bright yellow alien guy my dad calls “The Hitchhiker” attached to someone’s head, twirling around the dancefloor. My father, doing what he does best, spreading joy and life wherever he goes.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA, some woman next to me exclaimed. ALAYNA HIRED A PROFESSIONAL BALLOONIST.

Yeah, I said, proud as can be.

That’s my dad.