Here's a 'balloon boy' story that will lift your spirits.
Bobby Bradley has become the youngest pilot to solo in a hot-air balloon. And, of course, he did it in New Mexico, home to the heart of ballooning worldwide.
ABC news and the Associated press report the 9-year-old lifted off as the sun rose over the Land of Enchantment for a 26 minute float and a ride of his young lifetime. Bouncing off in Tome, near Albuquerque, he had three other balloons flying tandem, just to keep an eye out. His (apparently confident, but ever-cautious) parents told the press Bobby had only 10 gallons of fuel aboard, limiting the distance of his travel.
Read the full story (with a great photo of a safely-landed, very happy young pilot) here: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/balloon-boy-bobby-bradley-flies-heights-mexico/story?id=1376067