Up, up and Away...

Autumn in New York is brilliant.  Each tree seems to boasts its own rich color combination in every shade of the best of sunsets glorious color palette.  To know that we have lived this particular adventure means much more than just a brisk ride among the clouds...it whispers in my heart every time I see the photos, "...we have lived deeply...profoundly...exuberantly."   That means more to a dreaming girl than much of anything else.    For when I am very old...and feeble, I will look back and say just that once more.  "We did indeed live...deeply, profoundly and exuberantly."  And that will make me smile.

Welcome to a little bit of our wedding anniversary adventure!

Somehow, as I watched the balloon fill with the hot air, I felt like I may just run to the car and lock myself inside.  The fear of letting a simple balloon and basket carry me into the sky, took my courage and tested it to the core.   Can you see how very small the basket really is?

Mr. G...my tough warrior of a man didn't flinch.   And I like to think that it was his confident grin that gave me just the right amount of courage to step inside of the brown wicker basket and take a giant leap of faith in God and all of His plans for my evening.  It was really...God.

 

(Where we took off from)
This precious little place is called, "Sprout Creek Farm".  It is filled with every imaginable farming tool, animal and garden pleasure known to me thus far in my life.  Run by a group of sweet, talented and very hard working Catholic Nuns, it has a very special way of making each visitor feel as if they perhaps own a bit of the land.  The cheeses that come from their store alone, will bring us running back again and again.

After floating very aimlessly, for no less than an hour...our Captain found a perfect farm to cushion our landing.   It really was just this beautiful...in every way.

When the winds pick up the balloon, it can be a bit of a monster to contain.  Mr. G helped the men bring it under control again.

And there we are...the Dreaming Diva is, "Safely on the Ground" but with a completely changed heart.   You see, now I'd go up in a itty-bitty basket under a balloon covering again, any day, any time, any place...with one condition...Mr. G would still have to be my traveling companion.

(Still feeling so grateful for the romantic adventure of a lifetime!)

Comments

[Genie]

How fun! I've only been up in a balloon that was tethered -- we were probably up 50 feet in the air before coming back down. Sounds like an amazing adventure!

[Michelle]

Now you just got to be brave enough to go sky diving! lol After going sky diving that balloon ride seems like a merry go round to me.lol :) You have to try it though,really now that you conquered your fear of heights. :) Anyway it looks like a beautifully romantic anniversary for sure! Glad you had fun! :)

[Lisa Marie Runfola]

Jenn & Mr. G, What a wonderful truly Romantic Adventure! I love your photos, they are fantastic! It is so thrilling to see another couple take such an adventure together for I believe that you will both cherish this moment for a lifetime. It also makes great conversation! Long, long ago when I was probably in my early & later teens, I had an opportunity to go Hot Air Ballooning! TWICE ACTUALLY! I was such a brave sole then and I guess this is when my real sense of adventures began. My brother's friends parents owed a Real Hot Air Balloon ( they belonged to a hot air ballooning club/contests and all...) so there I was fortunate (not knowing @ the time) took the opportunity for granted as a teen and now reading your beautiful story has taken me WAY back to that very adventure!! Thanks for sharing, thanks for taking me back to where my real true adventures began....... God Bless the two of you! Lisa Marie xoxo

[Ching Ya]

That's beautiful! So happy for you.. And the view was fantastic. You're a very lucky woman. Best wishes. =)