Seashells and balloons--Al McGuire

Posted by Bruce Kahl on January 01, 2003

In Reply to: Seashells and balloons posted by Guy Andrews on January 01, 2003

: where did the expression "seashells and balloons" come from and what does it mean? Thanks Guy Andrews

Your phrase means looking at life with a positive approach through the worst of situations.
It was coined by (as per a few dozen web sites) Al McGuire, Marquette University basketball coach and TV commentator to describe satisfaction, joy or triumph and to mean life is good.
But then a pessimist would say that beneath all the seashells and balloons is gravel.