What if...

According to the all knowing Wikipedia, an accident is a specific, unidentifiable, unexpected, unusual and unintended external action or chain of events which occur in a particular time and place, with no apparent and deliberate cause but with marked effects.
Dad was involved in an accident. We can point fingers, we can place blame, we can rationalize, and we can say, “if such and such had happened... if only this didn’t happen... What if ....”
Dad, was doing the one thing in the world that he loves the most (well, that and spending time with his grandchildren). He was Ballooning. Did I mention that hanging around the balloon IS Dad’s ultimate passion. Seriously now, can anyone think of a conversation with Dad when you were able to talk to him without him randomly pulling out of thin air some ballooning story, adventure, or pictures or a mix of all 3? I have even seen Dad do this while ballooning. Who does that? Someone who is all consumed by the adventure, excitement, and lure of the balloon drifting effortlessly through the clouds and over the mountains to greener pasture. All the while, Dad, sunburnt and windswept is ever chasing. Eldon’s got his eye out for the next green light, back alley shortcut, or hidden driveway to the balloon’s perfect landing site.

I guess what I am saying is that yes, Dad was in a horrible accident. Sure there are hundreds of questions and second guessing. We could point fingers and place blame any direction the wind blows. What happened was terrible, but it was an accident. It happened. Lets band together, make the best of it, so we can all fly some more another day. After all, even Elmo knows that accidents happen.

~ With Integrity