“One Word Photo Challenge: Mustard”
If a picture is worth a thousand words, credit me with six thousand in my six- photo depiction of the word, “Mustard.” Before his early demise, Sponge Bob was a fifteen foot (or more) high hot air balloon made from Tyvec, constructed in Mexico as one of hundreds launched in a yearly Independencia celebration in Ajijic. These balloons take months to design and construct, then up to a half hour to launch, as a crowd of a thousand or more mills around on the ground or sits patiently in the stands of the soccer field, waiting for their ascent. Usually three or four are being launched at any given time throughout the long afternoon and evening. First a fire is lit in braziers to create the hot air to fill the balloon. Then a ring in the center of the bottom of the balloon wrapped in kerosene or gasoline is set fire to keep the balloon inflated and the balloon rises above the heads of the crowds, sometimes floating away to nearby towns, at other times meeting within minutes or even seconds with the fate of Sponge Bob Hotpants. The spectacle of the remains of the burning balloon falling into the crowd or trees or rooftops or highline wires is taken with a fatalism endemic to Mexico. Small boys rush to stomp out the remains of the fire. No mothers scold. No fathers forbid. The crowd pays more attention to food purchased from local vendors than they do with the possibility of being set on fire. This is Mexico. Such things just work out one way or another. A nearby firetruck was never called upon in the time I witnessed the event. Sponge Bob, the most mustard of balloons launched and an annual crowd favorite, was soon history and the only mustard to be seen was on the amazing spiral-cut hot dogs-on-a-stick served in one of the food stands that rimmed the road leading into the soccer field.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Oh yes. Such a typical attitude…I’d forgotten that. Things do work our…or not. But somehow disasters and death are dealt with in a more casual way than here.
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Tamara: I have a picture of small boys stomping out the flames, but for some reason it won’t download to my blog, so we’ll have to make do with my word on this! Have you ever seen these balloon launches? My very favorite yearly activity of many, as you well know.
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Also, I presume Sponge Bob is a liar, liar.
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Ha!!!! His pants are no longer square, either!!!!
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May they fill his pants again next year!
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How is Patrick handling this tragic turn of events? Have they found a replacement for him at the Crusty Crab? Who will be taking care of his snail Gary? Sponge bob helped me raise my children. This is tragic.
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Lydia: Well, I think Sponge Bob is a bit like the Phoenix, rising anew from his ashes. I know he goes up in flames every year here and yet reappears the next.
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Mustard is the typical burned out English teacher. Your photos made me smile!
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But we both went up in flames less spectacularly–me long before you!!!!
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Oh no, poor Spongebob. I can’t believe everyone is totally cool with their surroundings being in flames.
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Every fiesta (and there is one every weekend somewhere in the area) involves some sort of threat by fire or explosion. That’s Mexico! Thanks for responding, Jennifer.
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wow, definitely has to be an interesting experience though.
And thank you for sharing!
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