One morning in August of 1992 I woke up to a strange sound that turned out to be dozens of hot air balloons doing splash and dashes in Lake Lewisville. My family had been residents of Highland Village for less than 24 hours (are you a resident if the moving truck hasn’t gotten to your house yet?) and this was our welcoming. I remember standing at the back windows in awe of them. Every year we looked forward to seeing the balloons, it was a special way to mark the anniversary of us moving to Texas.

Then it happened... I got to see a balloon up close! The bank I was working for in 1996 was purchased by a large bank from the Twin Cities, and they owned 4 hot air balloons.  The balloon team brought 2 of them down to Texas for the Cleburne Balloon Festival and asked if anyone from the bank would want to crew. I volunteered! It was a late night for the glow, and then a very early morning for the flight. That was okay with me because the pilot promised me a ride in the balloon!!  I was too excited to sleep. When it was my turn to go up all I could think of was how much I love the sound of the propane burning. We ended up landing in a field of sunflowers and I was hooked. I had sniffed the propane and was addicted.  I asked if the team ever needed crew, and they said they always did.  I ended up crewing for them for a year and a half, including a tethered flight for President Clinton in downtown Albuquerque, and a very memorable and fun week at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. I was disappointed I never got to fly in my own backyard of Highland Village, Texas. It was always great to tell people you were part of the crew for Miss Penny and L’il Buck (they were pig shaped balloons...see pigs do fly!) After a year and a half it was time to come home and go back to school. Hot air ballooning had been my “backpacking through Europe” adventure.

Until this weekend I had not been to a hot air balloon festival since 1998. I was sure if I went the propane would get to me and I’d miss the days of crewing. Well....Friday night took an interesting turn. I was out on the field, taking pictures of the gentle giants inflating and enjoying the sound of the propane burning when I saw Highly Cool, a balloon based out of Plano, needing some extra weight to keep it from leaving the ground. My crew instincts kicked in and ran and grabbed the basket.  I spent the rest of the glow hanging on to the basket and talking to the pilot (Keith Berry), his family and crew.  What a great team and beautiful balloon! I know one is told not to become part of the story, but I think balloon crews are like doctors, obligated to help. My arms are sore today from holding down one side of the basket, and I realized I miss the sound of the propane and the friendship of the pilots and crew. So if you are a pilot and ever need crew, let me know! If you ever have a chance to crew or go up in a balloon don’t let the chance pass you by!