“I need to know a weekend date that you are available this month. You’ll need to dress warm, and we’ll have to be there by 5:30am.” I gave him a few dates to choose from, got off the phone and sat in my physics lecture hall at Indiana University, in puzzlement wondering what he was up to. Why did we need to dress warmly? It’s not that cold outside yet. Why 5:30am? That’s early!!! Are we going on a hike? A canoe trip? As my physics professor stepped in and began the lecture, my questions about dressing warm and 5:30am arrival times left me. I knew whatever Dustin had planned for us would be fun, and memorable.
Sunday, November 2, 2008 arrived. There we were, dressed warmly, sitting in the car in a super market parking lot, at 5:30 in the morning. What were we doing? What did Dustin have planned? These questions again began to bounce around in my head. Just as I was about to ask, I saw the large basket sitting on the trailer. “We’re going on a hot air balloon ride?!?!” I yelled as I danced in my seat.
We soon met our pilot and floated away into the stillness of the sunrise. The fall colors were so vibrant and the leaves glistened from the dew. I was in awe of the moment, and of the thoughtfulness of Dustin. We floated above the neighborhoods of Anchorage, Kentucky for about an hour. Just when I thought the moment couldn’t get any better, I looked down and there was the ground crew unfolding a red banner, painted with white letters, that read “Trina, my blessing, will you marry me?” I turned in shock to see Dustin on one knee, with the ring in hand. And of course, I said yes.
I took this photo of our balloon while we were floating away, and while I was still clueless to what was to come.
