The Balloon Glow

Last week Darrell and I, hand in hand, broke the rules and it felt so good.  It was such a little thing and if Darrell hadn't suggested it first I would not have crossed the line; but he did and I did.  As I have mentioned before I am a rule follower, yet hidden deep in my psyche there is a rebel who is screaming to get out and break some rules.  Not all rules mind you, because I truly believe rules are good.

Darrell took me to Forest Park in St. Louis to witness the Balloon Glow.  I didn't know what a balloon glow was but I knew it had something to do with the 70 hot air balloons that were scheduled to race the next day.  I soon realized it must really be a big deal because there were thousands of people milling around us waiting for the show.  Most of the people had brought lawn chairs and blankets and a couple had set up tents, all behind a chalk line drawn on the ground to mark off the area between the balloons and the spectators. 

Now I am no dummy, I knew that white chalk line was put there for a reason but when the owners of the balloons started inflating them and Darrell suggested we get a closer look, I jumped right over the line as if it didn't exist.  The balloons got bigger and bigger and my excitement level just kept raising with them.  We counted 36 hot air balloons all around us.  Once the balloons were completely inflated a horn blasted the signal for the glow.  There was a loud whooshing sound as the balloon burners ignited and large blue, yellow, white flames licked the inside of the balloons to create a surreal and beautiful sight against the dark sky.

Yes, I could have seen the balloon glow standing safely behind the white chalk line but I would not have felt the same sensation of exhilaration sitting quietly behind the lines as I felt standing amongst the giant monsters and feeling the heat of the flames bursting from their hearts.  Damn it felt good to break the rules.  I felt so alive and even a little bit bad.