Gorgeous morning. It began with three balloons. The sound of their burners crept into my consciousness as I let the dogs out the living room doors. They soon appeared in the distance, three colorful but unique designs rose slowly from the tree line to the east. There is something majestic about hot air balloons. They seem to have a life all their own and a highway through the sky that only they can see.

I have admired them all of my life. In years past we rode in a wicker basket in Africa overlooking the herds of Wildebeasts. And I have taken a ride through French wine country with dinner in a chateau afterward. There is really nothing quite like a balloon ride to see countryside.

Buddy Bombard used to be fascinated by balloons and he made a career out of them, building a company that takes people on tours in Europe. Very clever of him. I wonder if he is still doing it? Can’t find out anything about him and the domain name is available. Buddy went out with my sister years ago and that is how I got to know him. Such a fun-loving guy and someone I always think of positively.
I don’t know the people who run the balloons that pass over this property here is Virginia, but they seem to do it regularly if the weather is good for flying.

For me seeing those balloons overhead is meditative. And meditation has become an important part of my life. Anything I can do to “stop” and just “be” is what I care about these days. Meditation changed my life and it can change yours if you let it.

In today’s world where everything is so polarized and angry, it is a wonderful safe spot to just go meditate. I can do it nearly everywhere. It is sort of like a drug in that I want to do it more and more. The feeling of peace and rest is just too good to pass up.

I recommend it for everyone. There are so many apps online and so many different methods. Peace and tranquility are transformative. Especially for the creative among us, they are restorative and necessary for the vagaries of each person’s urge to make an impact on their world with their own talent.

As my morning progressed the memory of watching those balloons softened all the ragged, unfinished and unpleasant tasks still ahead of me today. Spending time in my new home is blissful. Yesterday I spent some time in Washington DC at my mothers house where I lived for several years. It is a lifeless place these days without her presence. As beautiful as it is it is dead to me now. It is time to turn my eyes to my own time and do things that please me. Just being here at my house pleases me very much. Just sitting in a chair and looking out the window at the lovely view, or even organizing spaces in my new kitchen or office makes me happy.

I am free. It has been a long time coming. But now I am totally free. Gratitude floods my entire body as I write this. And it is with gratitude that I go to bed each night. Gratefully I wake every morning as I realize where I am. This is a good time in my life and I want to express to others how happy I am because it may give them hope.

A few years ago living here was inconceivable to me. And there was no way to gauge how long it would be before my time as caretaker would be over. Now as the balloons pass silently overhead my palpable pleasure amazes me. Who would have thought that just seeing those wonderful baskets attached to colorful canvas teardrop shape and powered by the intense heat of flames would give me such a feeling of bliss? But they do.

Copyright©. 2020 Bonnie B. Matheson