The Balloonist's Prayer

 After safely landing and packing up the gear, we all loaded back into the van and were driven to a nice park in Sedona where we were to be served breakfast.

After arranging the meal of muffins, fruit and mimosas and champagne we were told of the origins of ballooning. The flight of the first balloon in the 1700's (if I remember correctly) almost did not end so well. The pilot landed the balloon in unfriendly territory and was nearly lynched! A bottle of champagne was offered to the landowner to appease him. Since then it is customary to present the landowner (usually a farmer) a bottle of champagne or wine for graciously allowing them to land. Obviously, flying with a tourist company BLM is not presented with wine, apparently they prefer greenbacks in exchange for a permit, so it is custom for a breakfast to be served shortly after landing.

Keeping with tradition, before breakfast, pilot/owner Mark recited the Balloonists Prayer:

The winds have welcomed you with softness,
The sun has blessed you with warm hands,
You have flown so high and so well, that God joined you in laughter.
And sent you gently back into the  loving arms of Mother Earth.
Amen.