balloon lift

i attended my very first balloon lift, and i have to tell you,
i was as excited as the little girl behind me who kept saying,
"look, mommy, look.  mommy, mommy, look!!!  mommy, mommy...."
i actually got tears in my eyes as the balloons began to lift.

it had been questionable whether they would even go up.
the skies were pewter, the winds seemed to be going in the
direction of the bridge that was out...which meant the chase cars
would not be able to follow.

the pilots kept checking the weather by sending up a helium balloon,
birthday party size, and watching how long it took to rise,
and which direction it went. there was a group meeting, and i saw only half a dozen thumbs up.
but then something changed.

they all started getting out the baskets,

and rolling out the balloons.

excitement mounted as the air start fans began to pump air into the balloons,
one by one they expanded and began to lift.

there is something very special about the rainbow of colors,
the bursts of gasses, and the sight of the flames as the balloons
fill and launch.

"look mommy, look!!!  there it goes!
there goes another one!"

we all clapped as each beautiful balloon rose off the grass.
soon the sky was filled with 15 or more colorful balloons.

and then the sun came out.
it was magic!