Balloon released at Parkside lands in Oklahoma
According to the atlas, the small town of Pryor, Okla., is 271 miles from Hillsboro by car.
But by air, it's probably a tad bit shorter.
And that's the route that a small yellow balloon took after it was released from Parkside Homes six weeks ago.
On Monday, May 13, a large group of Parkside Homes residents gathered outside with colorful helium balloons. The event was organized by Parkside activities director Peggy Brandt, in celebration of Older Americans Month.
Some of the balloons had little pieces of paper inside them — paper that listed the name of a resident and the Parkside address.
When the residents released the balloons, they watched them float off into the sky, wondering if one might reach a person who'd write back.
One did.
That's how Parkside resident Kaethe Warkentin came to receive a letter from 10-year-old Kimberly Sien, who lives in rural Oklahoma.
"Kaethe was ecstatic," Brandt said.
According to the letter, the girl found the balloon on May 20 — one week to fly from Hillsboro to Sien's farm in between Pryor and Adair, Oklahoma, northwest of Tulsa. Parkside got the letter early this week.
Brandt's never seen this happen before with a balloon release, she said.
But it did — and Kimberly Sien wrote back, her words written in careful cursive script.
Here's the letter:
Dear Kaethe,
My name is Kimberly Sien, I'm 10 years old. on may 20th I found a yellow balloon on the ground by are garden. I live between Pryor and Adair Oklahoma. I go to Bernita Hughes Elementary and Im in 5th Grade this year. I was so excited when I popped the balloon your name and address was on it. I took it to my mom and she read it and said I needed to write you. My favorite things to do are swim and play with my friends Leah and Tearia. I have a brother named Jerry and he's 12 years old. I have a dog named molly, 2 cats Thumper and sassy. I go to Church at Chelsea Free Holiness. I'm so happy I was the one out of all the people in the world to find your letter!
Thank you,
Kimberly
