DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '02 II => Topic started by: Connie on October 11, 2002, 04:40:03 PM
-
Well, my husband turned 50 yesterday (yikes!) and recently announced he's going up in a hot air balloon. (Huh?)
I thought that spending a fortune on a DVD player and a nine-disk set of Kubrick films for his birthday would make the poor boy happy and he'd forget about this hot air balloon stuff. But noooooooooo. He's still gonna do it.
Anyway, I'm nervous and uneasy about this. Has anyone on here been on a hot air balloon ride or know anything about it?? The whole idea scares me to death but I'm trying not to say too much about it 'cause I don't want to "rain on his parade" so to speak. LOL
I mean, I can understand this wanting to float around up in the sky and all, but......I'm a wreck here.
So, does anyone know about or have any experience with these rides, so I can maybe deal more calmly with what our daughter refers to as "Daddy's hot air balloon mid-life crisis thing" ????
-CLC :o
-
Oh my goddness Connie no i haven't been even near one of those things !they were suppose to do one at our fair last year but canceled it D/T Sept 11
we live pretty close to Boston(about 3-4miles) I don't think they are that bad but i hate heights so i'd never go but my husband and daughter were going to do it
and were mad they couldn't! para sailing looks more scary but good luck Are you going?
jennifer
-
I say give him a big kiss, and then wave and cheer until he and the balloon are mere specks in the sky.......you wouldn't want him to regret NOT doing it for the NEXT 50 years....would you?
My husband's hobby is surf-fishing....so for HIS 50th birthday he bought himself a 4-wheel drive truck so he could drive right down to the water's edge on the beach and not have to hike it anymore!! [lghy]
Raineypark
-
I think that compared to some other things he could want to do that ballooning is pretty safe. I'd say keep quiet and let him go for it and be glad that he doesn't want to skydive from an airplane or bungi jump from a bridge. [crazd]
Bette
-
I met my little girl's father when he was 59, he's 69 now. Do they ever get over their mid life crisis? I think it's still happening!
-
My husband is 59 and retired. I wish he'd get a hobby
besides surfing the TV channels and taking naps all day!
Let him go, Connie. Maybe he'll get the sh** scared out of him and stay back on earth watching movies on his new DVD.
-
Dear Connie,
Every year in my town we have "The Balloon Festival". The balloons only take off at dawn and dusk when weather conditions are calmest. The balloons are grounded if the weather is threatening in any way. The cost is $100. per person which includes champagne. There has been only one accident. The balloon went off course and hit some trees. It was slowly put down and no one was hurt.
My son would love to go but my husband and I can't stand heights. [nerv]
-
Hi Connie,
If your huband can wait til August, I found a web address for our town's balloon festival. Its called The Great Falls Balloon Festival(food, fun, carnival rides).
www.greatfallsballoonfestival.com
-
I have never been in a hot air balloon. I have seen them take off. I am afraid of heights so I would not want to try it. I think the other posters are right. Don't go, don't look, don't think about it but your husband should try it. I don't mean to sound like a fatalist but you never know and everyday should be lived to the fullest.
-
Well I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one scared of heights around here. I see them around here all the time....western Mass is full of hot air I guess LOL! I think they're fascinating to watch but I'd never do it. They're as safe as anything else so I'd tell him to go for it. Look at it this way, they're probably safer than his daily commute to work.
EG
-
I loved my hot air balloon ride and can't think of anything safer. It's not as if he's going sky diving (which I've also done) or bungee jumping (which I have no desire to do). He's in less potential danger on a hot air balloon ride than in an airplane!
The one and only drawback to the experience was the giant propane flame thrower ten inches about my scalp. It was hot and loud! Overall, though, the experience was a lot of fun!!! So don't worry! Go with him if you can - you won't be sorry!
-
Hi! I think a hot air balloon ride would be so much fun! I have never done it, but once one of the balloons landed in my Grandpa's field. Heck, if I can whitewater raft in Class V rapids, you can go up in a hot air balloon! :) It can be scary, but it will be something you always remember!
-Lindsey
P.S. We had a speaker come into our school yesterday, and he said he loves Juniors (which I am) because we're like "a whole group of people all going through mid-life crisis at the same time". Lol!
-
WHHOOOOSSSHHHH! They used to go over my house 2 or 3 times a year when I was in Prescott Valley, Arizona. They make a sound that is like no other. The sound would wake me up and I would run into the yard to see them. Way cool, I would LOVE to go up in one. I am scared of heights, but not at all the same thing for me.
The only accident I have heard of is when one had a tank dislodge and broke someone's leg. That could have happened anywhere though.
If you really think you wouldn't enjoy it, then by all means give him a big kiss and wave prettily.
-
He's in less potential danger on a hot air balloon ride than in an airplane!.....
Overall, though, the experience was a lot of fun!!! So don't worry! Go with him if you can - you won't be sorry!
Well, that's what I've been worried about - exactly HOW safe is it, ya know? I mean, there's not much control - you're just sort of floating wherever the wind takes you. I find it hard to believe that it's safer than an airplane though. (Actually, I'm not crazy about planes either). LOL
Am I going? No way in hell. Anyway, it's costing $175.
I just wish the worry wasn't hanging over my head. He's not doing it 'till November 3rd or something. I wish it was over and done with. I'd like him back in one piece. LOL
Signed,
Anxiety-Ridden
-
I really feel for you! My son recently parachuted out of an airplane. If he had told he was going to do it in advance, I would have freaked out. Now my daughter is thinking about doing it. Hopefully she'll come to her senses. I would personally rather go white water rafting then jump out of a little plane...ugh.
-
I am also scared of heights. But I have been told by
people who have been up in hot air balloons that
it is the most exhilarating thing you can do.
When it's over Connie, please post some pictures
with the words to "Up, Up and Away in my Beautiful
Balloon"
-
Hot air balloon rides are great fun! I live in the Bay Area and they do it up in NAPA all the time .. .rarely, very rarely is there an accident and I've been to the Albuquerque Balloon Fest they have every year.. . just ensure the balloon pilot is licenses, insured and/or bonded (same thing). ..then follow earlier given advice. . .wave to him as he goes up but not before giving a really hot kiss. ..
-
Well, that's what I've been worried about - exactly HOW safe is it, ya know? I mean, there's not much control - you're just sort of floating wherever the wind takes you. I find it hard to believe that it's safer than an airplane though. (Actually, I'm not crazy about planes either). LOL
It's safer, Connie. For one thing, people don't go up 10,000 feet in a hot air balloon. Any experienced balloonist can operate safely enough to insure the passengers are safe. The only difficulty is finding a clear spot to land. Sometimes you can drift a bit as you come down so if there are power lines or trees nearby the balloon goes back up and tries to find another spot. Believe me, there's nothing to worry about. Stop and think about how many times, if ever, you've heard about someone dying in a tragic balloon accident? And I'm not talking about that millionaire guy who keeps trying to go around the world in one - we're talking about commercial/civilian balloon rides here. Statistically, roller coasters are more dangerous.
-
When I was a youngster, the occasional hot air balloon would go over our house. I usually tried to knock them out of the sky with my slingshot.
Somehow, I don't think anyone was ever in great danger of plummeting.
--M
-
I think you should go for it too. Life is way too short and they are pretty safe. Take a picnic and a good bottle of wine and some cheese and enjoy the view.