Swift-Coles staff makes Birthday soar

By Jessica Vaughn / jessica@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 11/16/17

During the summer of 2017, Swift-Coles Historic Home volunteer Ann Jones discussed her upcoming Sept. Birthday with manager Sandy Forsman. At that time, Jones had no idea that one simple conversation …

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Swift-Coles staff makes Birthday soar

Posted

During the summer of 2017, Swift-Coles Historic Home volunteer Ann Jones discussed her upcoming Sept. Birthday with manager Sandy Forsman. At that time, Jones had no idea that one simple conversation would compel her fellow Swift-Coles coworkers to take it upon themselves to make her 80th Birthday soar.

For ten years, Jones has dreamed of taking a flight in a hot air balloon. Every year on the occasion, something has happened that prevented her from living the adventure.

“I’ve been wishing for this on my bucket list for ten years, since I was 70 years old,” said Jones. “And I happened to say something about it this summer to Sandy Forsman, about my plans and how they never materialized.”

Post-conversation, Forsman began speaking in private with everyone at Swift-Coles House about bringing Jones’ wish to fruition.

“I started talking to everyone about it, and we all pitched in for a ticket,” said Forsman. Together, they collected enough money to purchase Jones a ticket, and kept it a secret until a Volunteer Luncheon that takes place four times a year.

“I was very, very surprised and felt so honored when at our Volunteer Luncheon Sandy presented me with a ticket to go up in a hot air balloon!” said Jones. “I’ve been bragging to everybody, from here all the way to Italy this summer when I was on a trip over there, that Granny Annie was going up in the air!”

Due to scheduling conflicts, the big day was postponed until Thursday, Nov. 16, when Jones and her friends from the Swift-Coles Home, Sandy and David Forsman, Sandi Stewart, and Mike Lejsek, could all meet in Magnolia Springs. The group met with balloon pilot Tommy Rachel and his crew from Taking Off Hot Air Balloon Company, and when asked if she was ready, Jones replied, “I’ve been ready for ten years! This is an exciting day.”

The crew calculated the best place for liftoff in Foley, and after getting the balloon prepped, Jones was ready for her adventure. Accompanying her on her trip were Tommy Rachel, Sandi Stewart, and David Forsman. The four set off shortly after dawn, taking a trip above Foley and into the fields near Bon Secour.

“Just looking down at the amount of farmland that still is very much in evidence in Baldwin County was a pleasure to see,” Jones stated post-flight.

Upon landing, Jones’ adventure wasn’t complete yet, as Taking Off’s crew celebrated their three first-time fliers with a traditional Balloonists Prayer and Champagne Toast. Rachel explained how champagne, a noble’s drink in the 1700s, was used at the beginning of ballooning to help keep viewers on the ground calm. Nobles in the balloons would wave bottles of champagne over the side by way of proving to those below that humans were passing above them, and not an otherworldly creature since most people had never seen a flying device before.

The three passengers got to their knees, and after Rachel recited the Balloonists Prayer they lifted cups of champagne with their teeth for a celebratory drink, before toasting one another on their fun-filled day.

“Today was the occasion to celebrate my 80th Birthday,” Jones said. “It has been just phenomenally calm and beautiful, the sun’s shining, not a cloud in the sky, and we just floated along without any reason to feel fearful or apprehensive or such like that. It has been a very special day, one that I will remember for the rest of my life, however long God lets me do that. And if He keeps bringing all these sweet things along I’m going to stay around a little bit longer, you know? So I am just very grateful, very, very grateful.”

Jones expressed her thanks to everyone at Swift-Coles Historic Home and the Taking Off team, all who came together and brought her dream to life.

For information, pricing, and planning of your own hot air balloon journey, visit Taking Off Balloon Company’s website at www.GulfViewBallooning.com.

To learn more about Swift-Coles Historic Home, find out about upcoming events, and plan your visit, check out their website at www.SwiftColesHistoricHome.com, and mark your calendar for Dec. 2 when they will be hosting a Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Swift-Coles Home is a nonprofit organization.