speaking of piled high , the caterers had mounds of food heaped on platters that covered one huge table.-drinks were stacked on another table and tempting desserts were arranged around a beautiful birthday cake on still another.-the cake was decorated with balloons of every color and hue.-within a confining net was a colorful display of helium-filled balloons ready to be released at the same moment that lydia blew out her candles.-the eighty-two balloons were in honor of the eighty-two years of her life .