Balloon, Balloon Come Over To Us!

Two years ago Kuba and I were taking a walk around a pond near our house when we spotted a hot air balloon in the sky. It was a perfect summer evening and it seemed as if the balloon was headed right in our direction. I made up a spontaneous little jingle "Balloon, balloon, come over to us!" which we sang and sang hoping to lure it closer. I soon realized that it wasn't headed our way, so I took Kuba and we jumped into the car to chase the balloon. The whole time Kuba and I continued singing our catchy little tune until finally the balloon made a crash landing in a big box store parking lot. It was thrilling. Kuba was only 18 months old and still remembers when the big balloon hit the building. The balloon and everyone in it was fine, but it was slightly surrealistic to watch an enormous hot air balloon floating slowly over a thousand parked cars. We chased a few other hot air balloons that summer and that little tune stuck with us.

Last summer Anna, Anders, Kuba, and I chased a hot air balloon across 3 towns until it landed in a giant open meadow. It is indescribably fun to chase down a balloon. Everyone needs to keep their eye on the balloon and predict where it is headed. Lots of wrong turns, u-turns and then a big hallelujah! when you find the landing sight. And you have to be quick because you want to be there for the landing. Last year when we found the balloon we parked, jumped out of the car and charged across the field to watch as the balloon was caught and brought down. We stayed and watched as the basket of people unloaded, as the balloon was deflated, rolled up and packed.
They always take flight on beautiful summer evenings right before sunset, so the evening and weather is always perfect.

It now seems to have become a family tradition because just the other day we spotted yet another hot air balloon in the sky right near our home. Yes, we jumped into the car and followed it! We predicted that it was going to land on the college campus near us, so Anna parked the car and we chased it on foot. This was even more fun than following it by car because it was low as it slowly sailed over us. It was magical. We chased it to a nearby field and watched as they brought it down. Anders, his friend Hazel, and Kuba even helped with the packing up of the balloon this time. And of course we sang our tune...."Balloon, balloon, come over to us!"