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Since childhood, Linda had admired the beauty and grace of hot air balloons, and her desire to ride in one was nourished during her five years of living in Des Moines, Iowa, near the National Hot Air Balloon festival, where one could watch dozens of the brightly colored balloons fill the sky. While living in Portland years later, Linda shared with the local BVMs her great desire to someday ride in a hot air balloon. Since it was the year of her 50th birthday, they surprised her with the gift of a balloon ride over the heart of Oregon wine country, just southwest of Portland. As Linda prepared for this trip of a lifetime, her colleague in ministry, Fr. Bruce Cwiekowski, decided to join her so she could share the experience with a friend. The grandness of the occasion is best described in Linda's own words: “The morning was absolutely beautiful, with a clear blue sky and just a hint of a breeze. “Everything about the flight was marvelous. The views were magnificent: Oregon wine country and farmlands, the Willamette River, sunrise over majestic Mt. Hood with all the mountains from Mt. Rainier in Washington to the Three Sisters in central Oregon silhouetted against the sky. In places, patches of light white fog hugged the ground.” “We gradually ascended to 4100 feet and then just sat there…perfectly still…in complete silence. It was a truly awe-filled, spiritual experience.” “In spite of the day being so calm, we traveled almost eight miles an hour and landed in a field near the tiny town of St. Paul. We gently floated down through the tops of a ridge of trees, and saw the chase cars and crew ready to help us land. “But we weren't done yet! Then came the task of letting the balloon deflate, pushing the last air out, rolling it and putting it back into its small carrying case—about the size of two beanbag chairs!” Following the balloon ride, Linda and the other participants joined BVMs and friends at a champagne brunch, where the pilot, Roger, led the traditional post-flight toast:
For Linda, this experience gave new meaning to the BVM mission of “being freed and helping others enjoy freedom in God's steadfast love.” “The Oregon BVMs gifted me with the freedom of flight and the joy of having a long-time dream far surpass all expectations.” About the author: Kathy Carr, BVM is Coordinator of Social Ministry at St. Mary's Parish, Corvallis, Ore. Return to Table of Contents. |
“Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon”…such were the thoughts of Linda Roby, BVM, as she ascended over the majestic Willamette Valley in Oregon. It was the dream of a lifetime, one she had thought might never be fulfilled.