“Balloon in the air!” A much-anticipated alarm thunders through the house and four fully-grown adults scamper for shoes. With a small, startled child at their mercy and in tow, they head for two cars in the drive.  

Every year at this time, a local event has become a family tradition. Not every one in the family understands its significance however. A newly added son-in-law is mercifully clueless.  

It’s the Fourth of July and Balloon Fest in Ashland, Ohio. While some families are obsessive about grilling outdoors, fireworks, and softball, some enjoy sports, sunbathing, and other activities together, this one gathers for an uncharted wild race and photo-ops.  

For one to three days each year, the family joins in enjoying beauty and wonder. Their hearts lightened from watching fragile aircraft leave earthly anchors. The sky itself is charmed with an ability to hold up mystical vessels of the heart.

Ordinary sights become extraordinary seen through the lens of a camera, with a background of crystalline sky and rainbow-spirited balloon. Even weeds on a roadside have potential. Common sights and neighborhood trails become more interesting, especially as doors to houses release seldom seen occupants. Lawns and gardens don’t seem so untouchable as they’re shared with neighbors enjoying the fun. The back roads are lined with cars, some driven by familiar locals. A reunion of sorts gathers. Out of town relatives and even the Ohioan ‘plain’ folks join the trails of watchers and chasers. Black buggies join the ranks, and at home families become less shy with passers-by. Soon, we’re sharing light conversation and balloon ‘memories’, sometimes with people we know only in passing. The local economy, farming news and world events become open targets of discussion, but with a benevolent attitude. It’s almost like an ice-cream social on the road.  

Taking the by-ways to follow a race is at least half the fun. We may travel a new path and see a new wonder, or find a natural treasure or remember an old one. Stories are re-told of finding wild asparagus, strawberries and ‘useless nuts’--the buckeye. Sometimes, one of us may get on the crew to help take down a balloon. We laugh at dogs and cows, unsuspecting farmers and backyard bathers who suddenly find a puffing presence hanging over them.   

Small things discussed in the car lead to important decisions while we wander.  After three years of ‘chasing’,  my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary on a piloted flight. We were awed by the silent travel; gracefully touching tree tops and drifting in the easy breeze.  

With our hearts satisfied and with a sense of fulfillment, we head home. We ease off the road one more time as we watch the lead balloon, a renegade, fly far ahead of the pack. It hangs perfectly on the horizon like a beauty mark, then claims the settling day and gathers in a sweet, blushing kiss from the evening sun. 

Author's Biography

April Boyer is from the beautiful Mid-Ohio Valley, a replant to Ashland, from Indiana. She has been writing and publishing for over seven years, and is the director of a Christian Writer's support group. 

She loves Jesus Christ, her hubby of 31 years, two adult children, two grandchildren, writing, meeting people, taking road trips, birding and ballooning: in that order. 

E-mail April at gemmy@jesusanswers.com  

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