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Show t 'fl ViW !vv.3 W by Teri Gomes Simply an uplifting weekend Writers are a cynical lot. They make their living criticizing, digging and exposing. They're the ones who look at the rosebush and not only do they not take time to smell the flowers, they are thinking, "Where does the root system get its water," "How long are the thorns," and "There are probably bees in there." Theirs is not the violet-scented, toilet water sentimentality. With all that in mind, I'd like to share with you a simply inspirational weekend. The center of the two days was the marvelous Autumn Aloft Hot Air Balloon Festival. The event itself is covered (almost ad nauseum) elsewhere else-where in this issue. It is safe to say the event was a soaring success. A hot air balloon festival must be experienced; it cannot be described. But let me say, the thrill of watching those gentle giants inflate one by one, the cheer of the crowd as the first balloon rose, and the smiling gleeful faces of children of all ages as the morning sky filled with nearly two dozen brightly colored balloons simply was uplifting. Inspirational for me was this year's Utah Easter Seal child Andrew Riggle, braver daily than I can hardly relate to, taking his first hot air balloon ride thanks to the generous crew and sponsors of Western Airlines. It was a glimpse of the 1985 Special Olympics Park City will host. Andrew has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. He is one of six people nationwide to have had surgery enabling him to carry an electro pack on his back which signals the muscles in his body to help him sit up straight, and other functions we consider everyday. It will be a very long time before I forget his infectious giggles during the initiation ceremony. Without a doubt, the most prestigious balloon was the patriotic Bicentennial Treaty of Paris Balloon. In its only western United States appearance, the balloon flew all week, hosted a wedding and insured that the chairmen of this Bicentennial committee came to Park City to represent the event. That was the best part of all. The chairman is Dr. Joan Challinor, a history professor at the American University in Washington, D.C. Her husband is the assistant secretary of the science department of the Smithsonian Smith-sonian Institute. These are at least second careers for both of them. In addition, they have managed to raise four achieving adults. As a fellow parent, I am always curious in how one raises successful human beings. At a cocktail party Sunday night I asked Joan what advice she had in nurturing. Her response startled me. "I prepared my children for a world which simply did not exist. And I actually did them a great disservice. I taught them to be honest, to be on time for appointments, to pay bills when they were due. When they reached the real world they found that those principals did not actually apply." Another guest joined the conversation conversa-tion and suggested that maybe this generation of parents could concentrate concen-trate on raising an honest minority. Joan concurred. "If there were just one word I could give you about parenting it would be integrity. If you have it, it should be easy enough to teach to your children. And with that, they survive well." I was reminded of a conversation years ago when I was a single parent feeling burdened with the pressures of a demanding business and two small children under age five. A man who was a confirmed bachelor (and of course, has since married) told me he felt the most enduring creation one could achieve was to be a successful parent. He said, "If you are an artist, and you create say a dozen works of art, they still represent but a few frozen frames of a life. But if you create a successful child who becomes a happy adult, that is a masterpiece that lives on after you." Joan told me that of all her manj( careers, being a mother has been the most important, and challenging. To top all those things off, the leaves began to change in force this weekend. Fiery oranges compete with golden yellows as a multicolored patchwork quilt begins to cover the mountains. L always experience a sense of awe when the leaves signal the oncoming winter. And it struck a vein with me this is a' beautiful place to live. There are; wonderful opportunities here to ex-' perience with the fascinating, inspira-I tional people who come here as visitors' and leave as friends. ' Like a favorite old sweater I hope to" wrap up in these warm feelings when the bitter cold (and cynical) breezes, begin to blow... ' |