The Balloon in the Street

Does anyone else notice something seemingly insignificant and wonder the backstory behind it?

I was driving home from the gym a few days ago and noticed a red, partially deflated balloon in the street. I drove around it and watched in my rearview mirror as it floated to a new spot, displaced by the air from my car. 

I wondered if the balloon was from a kid's birthday party, and if so, if the child was sad that the balloon flew away.

I wondered if the balloon was from a retirement party, and if so, if the person was happy to retire or if they were going to miss the regularity and stability of an occupation.

I wondered if the balloon wasn't blown for a celebration at all, and if so, why was it blown?

I do this everywhere. In grocery store checkout lines, customers leave items they changed their mind about. Planners. Did they find a different one, or did they decide they wanted to live without a plan? Cookies. Are they watching their weight? Did their child pick them up when they weren't looking and slip it into the cart? 

At garage sales. Why did this woman buy a Britney Spears telephone address book in the first place? Is she sad to be getting rid of it, as I'm sometimes sad to let go of childhood memorabilia? 

Everyone and everything has a story. It is so easy to forget this, but I can't seem to stop thinking about it.