Floating on Air

Did I not tell you that New Mexico is fantabulific in the fall? I did! I told you about the air and the sky, the purple asters and yellow aspens and the pinon coffee and the roasted chilis. But I saved one of the best for last.

The Balloon Fiesta! Every fall, Albuquerque throws a big party for all the people loco enough to drift through the atmosphere dangling from a bag of hot air. The party is huge and everyone is in a giggly, effervescent mood because, well, the air is filled with giant balloons! It's like being in a happy dream. Or a Dr. Seuss book!

We had to drag poor Little One out of bed at 4am into the Brrrrr. But once we saw the first little glowing orbs over the Sandia skyline, it was worth it. Little One had a ball. She stared and stared. She wore Herself out trying to point to every single balloon and ask, "that?"... "that?"...."That??" She played and took in the scene and fiesta-ed until She collapsed into a comatose state in the car.

There were hundreds of balloons that day, so many it was like someone just threw a patchwork quilt over the whole valley to keep us warm. Little One loved them all. I agree, they were beautiful. But I have to admit that out of all the colorful flying objects in the sky, I did single out a particular favorite.

Thanks for all all the fun, NM familia! Little One and I can't wait to fly back soon.