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