| Dogs distrust hot air balloons. I gathered | | | | "Are those sheep?" my husband wondered, |
| this tidbit as my husband and I floated over | | | | pointing to toy animals far below. "No," said |
| the mountains in a wicker gondola, listening | | | | our pilot placidly. "Cows." They turned out |
| to the barking chorus that followed us even | | | | to be horses, but who cared. For the duration |
| 3,000 feet into the air. The burner evokes | | | | of our flight, nothing mattered, and that was |
| canine protest -- but we had no problems, as | | | | perhaps the biggest lesson of the morning. |
| we drifted with the currents and contemplated | | | | Letting go of anxiety. Letting go of fear. |
| the silent fog in its morning retreat over | | | | Letting go of expectations. Letting go of |
| the hills. | | | | everything -- except the absolute pleasure of |
| | | | quiet flight, confidence in the balloonist's |
| We learned that a mere a six foot rise in | | | | competence, and sensitivity to the beauty of |
| altitude can change your direction, if your | | | | that is our gift for living in these hills. |
| vehicle is a hot air balloon. We learned that | | | | |
| the tops of trees look a lot different from | | | | Take a hot air balloon ride. Treat yourself |
| above, and birds look surprised if you greet | | | | to a massage. Walk in the early morning dew. |
| them in their nest. We waved reassurance to | | | | Listen -really listen-- to the insects, the |
| cows whose moos voiced concern at our strange | | | | birds. Smile at a cat you haven't met. Take |
| presence overhead and we called "good | | | | time for the slower things and Life will find |
| morning" to the folk who blessed us with | | | | a thousand ways to turn the blessing back to |
| their waves. | | | | you. |
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