While driving down from Riggins, I heard an ad for "The Spirit of Boise", their balloon festival boasting dozens of balloons. This weekend of events was starting when I was in town! What luck!
This morning, I made my way down to a local park and set my chair up as the sun began to rise. I knew from my experience at my last balloon festival not to be an over-achiever because that just means you sit out in the cold and dark for an extra hour. So this time, I showed up later and did not have to wait too long before dozens of balloons, maybe even 30, set sail. Before the balloons did so, the announcer (who was offering colorful commentary throughout the morning, complete with unrelated jokes) asked us to rise for the National Anthem.
Most days in my life, I don't get an opportunity to hear our beautiful anthem unless at a sporting event. On this trip, I can recall only one other time (hog wrestling in Riverton, WY). Both of these experiences have been beautiful, but today as Beyonce's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner bellowed out, I couldn't help but tear up.
There is something absolutely sweet about an anthem that unifies a people. Here I am, over 2,000 miles from home, from friends and family, but a song connects us no matter where we are from in this nation, or who we are. As we stand together singing (in our heads) the great sentiment of the land of the free, we are momentarily not a nation divided, but one that is unified.
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