We own and operate a hot air balloon tour company; Fantasy Balloon Flights in the Palm Springs and Ventura, California areas. Guests often propose on the flights. Once a balloon was chartered for two couples.

One of the gentlemen got down on one knee held out a beautiful large stone engagement ring, and proposed to his girlfriend. She said yes, but before he could put the ring on her finger, his buddy asked to see the beautiful ring.

As he was showing it to his friend the gentleman fumbled while handing it to his friend. The girl, the other guests, and the pilot watched in horror as the ring tumbled over the side of the gondola at a couple thousand feet in the air. Everyone watched the ring drop but could not see where it landed in a field full of brush and weeds.

The gentleman waited a few moments and then presented his girl with the real ring he had kept safely in his pocket. The girl slugged him while everyone had a good laugh. We tell the story often, and see them occasionally, years later they are still happily married.