Highlights
Task:
Rachel Perez
Instructor: Sean Henry
English 101 – Section 311
11 October 2021
What Goes Up, Must Come Down
I put the phone down as I hung up the call. I felt my nerves begin to tremble as I thought about the future ahead of me. Although spontaneous, I could not back out now that I had confirmed my reservation. I knew that I dodged one giant bullet with skydiving, but I was still not in the clear. I was afraid of heights, and I knew that more than anyone else. I tried to think of it as a fun day out with my boyfriend, but not even that could calm my butterflies. The calm before the storm, and I hadn’t even hit the storm yet. I mean, how scary could riding in a hot air balloon be? Apparently very scary. I felt like I was waiting in line to get on a roller coaster. I knew what I was getting myself into, so I patiently waited for the time I would get to experience it. Even though I willingly got in line, I could not stop fearing for the worst. Once the time came, I began to regret ever setting foot into the park in the first place. I wanted to run, but out of possible sheer embarrassment, I stayed. I stayed to experience the storm.
Days of waiting for something daunting did not do the best to my mind. I felt slightly abnormal for the entire time leading up to the day, even if nothing peculiar happened. Yet, that feeling came from somewhere. In the back of my head, I thought of all the terrible possibilities that day would offer me, and I couldn’t help but think that any one of those realities could be this reality. The possibility of my life ending so suddenly was always a thought that perturbed me. I thanked any higher power in the clouds above me that I wasn’t doing this on my own. If I did fall off, at least I had someone to blame.
The specific place we chose was a family-owned hot air balloon business. For forty-two years, Temecula Balloon Rides has provided happy flights to anyone in the Temecula area. Since 1975, they used a combination of old-world traditions of hot air ballooning and incorporated it into the modern “aerostatic technology” that they seem advertise so densely. The business had built and flown airships all over the world, with some of their establishments offering helicopter tours, glider flights, and ultralight airplane training lessons. Some of their pilots were known for being members of the Screen Actors Guild, performing in Super Bowl Commercials and even driving the Batmobile. It was also surprising to know that they have worked with NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed, General Dynamics, and many other major aeronautics companies. They were indeed the experts of hot air ballooning.
We arrived at the Perris Airport at five in the morning. This was when we greeted one another and went over the do’s and don’ts of hot air ballooning. Tips such as to keep your belongings on your person, dress appropriately (which we were warned about before coming) and keep a safe distance away from the basket’s sides were taught to us. After the crash course we were transported to the actual ballooning location in Temecula. An emergence of multiple brightly colored balloons filled my vision as they were inflated by their respectful fires. The balloons are known for their beauty and manufacturer, who invented the modern hot air balloon system they use today. Their Aircraft Repair Station is FAA Certified, so any possibility of a problematic balloon is relatively low. The giant balloons and vast open land of dead, yellow grass made me feel like an ant. With the tall hills, slopes, and mountains that made the background of my view, I felt like a molecule.
One’s experience depended on how much money they were willing to pay. Paying a hundred dollars extra would get someone a luxury wine tasting experience after the ride, as well as a lunch at the local restaurant Monte De Oro’s Bistro. Other options included private charter flights, engagement specials and extras, extended flight duration, and private compartments in the basket. Out of all the possible options, I, of course, chose the cheapest option. With my choice, I had the privilege to experience a thirty-minute ride with six other strangers who also wanted to keep their wallets.
By seven in the morning, we were ready for lift off. We saw an older man walk out to greet us. This was our pilot, Jacob. His tall stature, white combed back hair, stern but friendly voice, and slim figure completely fulfilled my expectations of the pilot I imagined. He was the embodiment of the word “freedom.” His puffy dark brown jacket protected him from the cold and made him look bulkier than he was. The man around his fifties had done enough to become FAA certified, have over 7,000 flight hours, have a degree in Geological Sciences and Meteorology, and become rated to fly blimps, rotorcraft, balloons, airplanes, and ultralight airplanes. He had gotten used to being off the ground and risking his life each time for most of his life, and I was absolutely blown away by that fact.
I had an overqualified pilot, FAA certified balloons, and nice, refreshing weather on my side, yet I could not stop living in fear. I anticipated this moment from the concept of this event to the moment we were called to fill up the basket. As I stepped in, I felt my adrenaline spike up to its peak. The last-minute regrets begin to flood my mind and all I could do was silently panic. I knew my boyfriend had the same problem so we couldn’t anything but reflect on our lives up to this point and pray. The balloon, which was fully inflated, was quite warm and helped ease some of the chilling nerves I so desperately wanted to thaw out. The scent of burning smoke began to fill my lungs as I tried to take in slow and deep breaths. The basket itself was woven, rough and prickly, and had multiple shades of brown and red in its texture. It was like the material of a very thick rope, but tighter and sturdier. The top of the balloon was all air, smoke, heat, and mechanics. The hot air generated from the contraption filled the balloon with lighter air than the air surrounding it. Propane filled the cylinders of the contraption, heating the coils inside it. The heat turned the propane into gas, and when the burner was turned on, it ignited the propane on fire. The moment we started to lift off the ground was the moment the air inside the balloon was balanced with the heavier air outside of it.
We slowly detached from the grass beneath us and flew up into the sky. The first few moments felt as though we were riding up an elevator. The quickly elevating balloon instantly made my ears pop from the altitude we were reaching. I looked up toward the sky and looked back down. At any moment a harsh wind current, an airplane, or even someone not looking where they’re going could send me falling. I looked towards the ground as it became smaller. I slowly realized that I wasn’t afraid of how high I was going to be, but just of the rare instances of something going terribly wrong. I scanned the area down below and felt fine upon this discovery. I felt like a cloud. The breeze of the morning winds sent my hair south. Fearing the worst, I never looked to anticipating the best. My stress and anxiety blew away along with the current. Despite being around three thousand feet in the air, I was feeling awake, alive, and present. Any people that were once perceivable were now tiny specks on the long stretch of land with winding roads, tall buildings, and human-built structures. Feeling like the biggest thing on our earth, I felt happy as I looked down upon our world. Without fear, I gained a new pair of eyes, now seeing our life for what it is.
As our balloon descended, I knew I was going to cherish this experience. I had just carried out a new, spontaneous activity while overcoming my fear of the unknown. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and thanks to that I realized I had looked at my fears the wrong way. After going up, I thought of the thousands of horrible ways we could come down, but never even once considered the millions of gratifying and spectacular ways until this day. Elegantly gliding back to the ground was awe-inspiring, but maybe next time I could freefall my way down instead.
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