Bountifully billowing throughout the Morgantown skies in their extraordinary aerial contraptions, aliens invaded the “college campus.” Despite the alarming announcements to return to our living quarters for a lockdown, none of the hundreds of inmates moved as the near invasion captured our collective attention. Repeating a third announcement to return to the housing units, everyone remained unresponsive again and captivated by an actual invasion. Allow me to explain…
The week’s weather started a bit cooler than we had been experiencing. On Wednesday, I was busy helping different housing quarters turn on their heaters. By Friday, the temperature warmed into the 70s becoming unseasonably generous with a slight breeze and perfect skies, which also meant a perfect time to play pickleball. A few of us are dedicated to playing pickleball rain or shine, windy or sublime. On Friday, the slight breeze gave one side of the pickleball court a bit more advantage. Oddly, the breeze was coming from the opposite direction than it normally had. Scattered throughout the sky were about 20 hot air balloons in celebration of the Annual Morgantown Hot Air Balloon Festival. The balloons had been sporadically flying off in the distance all afternoon and offered a cornucopia of colors to the normal hilly, green landscape. By evening, more balloons were flying high, occasionally eclipsing the warmth of the sun on the pickleball court. Then, ever so slightly, the constant breeze changed direction.
Apparently the change in the direction of the wind also meant a change of the flight pattern for all the balloons. Within minutes, 5 balloons drifted, no wait, 6…7…oh boy, all of them steered off course – heading right for the prison. The myriad of balloons were directly above us, but not so far above. They were probably about 50 feet off the ground. It became quite obvious that the change of the breeze overwhelmed the hot-air pilots. One of the balloons began a spectacular descent cruising over our heads on the pickleball court to land (or crash) about 75 yards away on the softball field. Whoomph, here comes another one. The second touched down in another area of the campus but was able to catch a draft and lift off the ground about 10 feet. Then, the wailing alert of the campus’ announcement system directed everyone to shelter within their housing units for a lockdown.
Watching the balloons rapidly lower to the ground was amazing, and none of us moved since we felt that these people might need help (or that it was like rubbernecking on the highway). The scene was comically fascinating after realizing that no one was hurt and that these people were mortified to be crashing their balloons into a prison compound greeted by hundreds of glaring at the astonishing event. The first balloon that crashed immediately deflated, and the people in the basket were able to exit safely. The sudden change in the wind’s direction was enough to overtake these aeronautical wonders and re-route them to a very unexpected location.
This historical invasion of the hot air balloons coincided with my 11th month of confinement, which makes it quite memorable (and perhaps symbolic) moment. I am elated that no one was injured or harmed during this incident, and it was a welcomed distraction from all the brutal chaos of world events. While my little bubble of Morgantown was invaded by people who certainly did not want to be here. I began to wonder about our nation’s southern border: would a wall stop a flood of hot air balloons!? I digress.
These past 11 months have been quite the learning opportunity and life experience for me. I am humbled and grateful for the love and outpouring of support from so many incredible people. I miss everyone and the simplicity of everyday life (aka freedom). Thank you for taking the time to catch up on my adventures in a federal prison and allowing me to share my personal journey of recompense throughout these many months. Please continue to be open and mindful of any little miracles in your daily life 😀