by Kelli Bowen
This past weekend was the Hot Air Balloon Rally in Medora. The rally coincides with the last weekend of the Medora Musical, so it’s a big weekend.
On Saturday, there was too much wind up above, keeping the balloons from being able to take off. On the ground it wasn’t windy though, so the pilots decided to stay tethered but go up and offer people rides.
Over a thousand people showed up hoping for a balloon ride before Mother Nature decided otherwise.
Hubby and the girls joined me at the field, we signed waivers and went about waiting in line. We watched a couple of balloons pack up for the day as the gusts started gusting.
I let my family know that standing in line didn’t guarantee a spot to ride, so set their expectations. Just then, they shouted down the line: “Single rider? We’ve got room for one more?” Everyone looked around, committed to the idea of riding in a basket with their friends or family.
Miss A shouted “I’ll go!” She ran to the front of the line and climbed in the basket. She secured her ride in a hot air balloon. After coming back down to Earth, she smiled, walked over and said: “Can we got home now? I’m hungry.”
Sometimes in life, you’ve gotta be ready and willing to go when the opportunity presents itself. If you’re going to cling to the idea of how you thought it should go, you may just miss your ride altogether.
There was something satisfying about watching our 9-year-old step out of the safety of our family and reach for something she wanted with the confidence she did. She didn’t hesitate or debate whether or not she should; she knew what she wanted and what needed to be done and did it.
I know some adults who don’t have the same capacity. May we all have the courage to take our balloon ride when the opportunity presents itself.
Kelli makes her home in Billings County with her husband, two daughters and a dog. She works for North Dakota's #1 tourist destination by day and tries to be an alright mom, wife, friend, and writer by night.
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