Why We Do What We Do

Sometimes people ask why I do what I do, and over the past couple days I've gotten a great reminder.  Life can be hard and tough and crazy and sometimes we all need to remember why it is that we are on the path that we are on.

After a long day of work yesterday and and my looming early morning wakeup call this morning, Saturday night called for a chill night, which in my opinion, are some of the best nights.  Luckily my sister was in the mood for the same and tagged along for the evening.  We decided on a new (to us) dinner spot, Grazie, which turned out to be fantastic.  A cute, quaint wine and pizza bar, the evening monsoon was rolling in and we couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere to take in the clouds and some comfort food (the pizza was actually amazing!).  We talked about life, laughed, and were just sisters, not Co-Owners of a balloon company for a few hours, which was so nice and so needed, as it is easy to get caught up in just work day to day.  

Grazie pizza (yum!)

Post-dinner we decided to catch the new Keira Knightley movie, Begin Again, at the only theater we could find it playing at, the older, more indie theater, Camelview in Old Town Scottsdale.  On the drive over, we spotted Steph's old stomping grounds, Sprinkles, where she used to work, and would routinely bring home Sunday night treats for our family dinners.  "Do you want to?" Steph asked. It had been soooooo long since we'd had our once weekly tradition.  "Of course!" I responded, and we had just enough time.  Debating on which flavor of cupcake to get as we stood in line (I usually stick with my favorite red velvet, while Steph is a little more adventurous), I couldn't believe what I saw.  I gasped so loud, I'm pretty sure everyone around us heard, but I didn't care.  In the middle of a sea of regular dotted red velvet cupcakes (if you've been to Sprinkles you know what I'm talking about) was one with a cactus decoration on it.  It felt so sentimental to me I could barely contain it.  

My gorgeous Mom with her cactus cupcake

A couple of years ago in the middle of Fall, my Mom and I went to visit Steph while she was working at Sprinkles, and of course support the business (we had to right?!).  I remember it like it was yesterday, my Mom and I waiting in line to see Steph, watching her with her bright, smiling face helping customers.  My Mom was so proud of her daughter, and I was proud of my little sister.  We each bought a cupcake from her and my Mom got a cupcake with the cactus decoration on it.  I've never seen that decoration in Sprinkles since, literally for years...until yesterday.  It was like my Mom was right there with me, reminding me what's important, and that my sister and I are carrying out her vision.  I am so unbelievably lucky to get to see and work with my sister, and best friend, every day, and am so happy to have had my Mom for the time I did.  My Mom and sister are the two people who I'm truly bonded with for life, my family.  We might be small, but we are a family, and my Mom will ALWAYS be a part of that, whether down on the ground or up in heaven soaring the skies with the angels.  She was, and is, the best thing that ever happened to my life and I can only hope to be half the woman she is.         

My cactus red velvet cupcake from last night

Mom and I at Sprinkles visiting Steph

I teared up even as I went to sleep thinking about the sign I had that day, and looking at old photos, missing my Mom.  Before I knew it my alarm was going off at 4am, and I didn't feel like moving.  Sleep sounded so good, but we had a big group that I had been working with for months flying this morning, so I knew it was important to be out and about with the balloons.  When I arrived I got bad news, weather wasn't looking good.  My worst nightmare!  I really hate disappointing people, especially with things that are out of my control, like Mother Nature.  It was a mutual consensus that it was windy and there was a good possibility of canceling the flight.  I cringed.  We all went out to the launch site, 6 pilots, 16 crew and our group, and guess what?  We flew.  The winds calmed down, gear was unpacked and we got 6 balloons of smiling faces up in the beautiful sky.  

This morning's flight

It clicked, this is why my Mom did it, and worked so hard, for those smiling faces and for our family.  And that's why I do it.  It's definitely not always easy, but my Mom, sister, our great passengers, amazing pilots, office staff and crew, you make everything worth it - keep being the awesome people you are :)