20th Anniversary Dream Trip Contest

Great Travel Moment

The week before my grandmother's 95th birthday, she and I went up in a hot air balloon. We were attending my dad's WWII Navy Reunion in Albuquerque, NM at the time of the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in October 2001. It was just the two of us with the pilot. She asked the pilot when we were going up, and he responded,"Look down. We're already 200 feet in altitude." Afterward, other members of the reunion asked her how the flight was. Grandma (Cora Willis) responded,"If my trip to heaven is as smooth sailing, then I will be in good hands." The following year, in July, Grandmother passed away and I was elated to be able to share this experience with those who loved and cared for her.