The Most Magical Morning
Sunday 2001

Because of the events of 9/11 all aircraft of any kind was grounded across the US. It looked as if the balloons would not be able to leave the ground for the Adirondack Festival. At the last minute the permission to fly came and the festival was on! Having the normalcy of this September tradition seemed to help everyone to cope with the tragedy of the trade center bombings. And nothing can lift spirits more than the launch of the magnificent hot air balloons.

Sunday morning dawned as a glorious day. Balloons began to appear from the backs of vehicles and inflate like giant colorful mushrooms all over the field. We were expecting the usual wonderful launch and then the mass departure from the airport, but things were different. There were soft breezes blowing in all different directions. A balloon pilot could go to one altitude to fly north and then to another level and turn south.  All the balloons stayed right at the airport to the delight of everyone on the ground. I looked one time to see two balloons going in opposite directions above me!

There was one brave soul, Allen Emer, who thought this weekend needed something more. He stood atop his balloon waving an American Flag to the chants of "USA! USA!" from the crowd on the ground.

My husband, Gino, was walking around taking photos and said hi to his friend Rich in the Strawberry Balloon. Rich asked him if he was doing anything. When Gino said no, he heard the most wonderful words from a balloon pilot... "Hop in!" Gino then got to drift in the air and wander around in the gentle breezes above the airport with all the others. He took the photo that gave me the idea for this painting. After a while he mentioned that I would have loved to be with them, and Rich put the balloon down and said "Go get her!" Gino stayed to keep an eye on the art tent and I got to fly also! I took lots of photos of the rainbow colors against the misty sky as we drifted around the airport and marveled at the ever-changing scene. It was truly the most magical morning!