Design Crafters

Did you ever send off balloons with messages, or throw a message in a bottle into the ocean? Ever get a response back?

I remember in elementary school we sent off balloons with our schools contact info as a two part of a project to study winds and as a fundraiser.  The more balloons you bought, the more messages got sent with your name on it. Many classmates received letters back from other kids, but I never did.  The balloons ended up in Montana and three provinces in Canada. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. After reading a story yesterday, perhaps there’s still hope for me.

Recently Merle Brandell was surprised to find a message in a bottle near his small Alaskan fishing village while beachcombing. The message apparently came from an elementary school student in a Seattle suburb that, “This letter is part of our science project to study oceans and learn about people in distant lands,” she wrote. “Please send the date and location of the bottle with your address. I will send you my picture and tell you when and where the bottle was placed in the ocean. Your friend, Emily Hwaung.”

When Merle responded back, he learned the letter was first put in the water 21 years ago and traveled 1,735 miles. Needless to say, Emily was thrilled to learn about this finding too.

This story gave me an idea. If you happen to be visiting the ocean or live near the ocean, next Christmas why not send a Christmas wish with a photo Christmas card in a bottle and see what happens. Be safe though.