Watching balloons and honoring loved ones on Christmas Eve
Dec. 25—When he was in high school, Anthony Valdez's brother would drive him across Albuquerque to track down floating balloons in the days leading up to and during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
"It's always something I've been passionate about," Valdez said about hot air balloons.
Eight years ago in February, his brother died from a drug overdose. So, whenever Valdez comes back to the annual Christmas Eve Balloon Glow at Arroyo Del Oso Golf Course, his eyes light up while he honors his brother.
"It helps me with the pain," Valdez said.
That is what the balloon glow is about, helping those who are still hurting, said Todd Kersting, event sponsor and pro golfer.
"I want to help people pay tribute to somebody they love, celebrate somebody who may have survived cancer this past year or someone who's passed away," he said. "I want to help them get through whatever they may be going through during a holiday."
At Sunday's 34th annual balloon glow, a few hundred people weathered wind and chilly temperatures to honor friends and family who died or to see some cool balloons hours before opening up their Christmas presents.
The course was decked out with about 20 balloons, which did not glow due to the wind. However, crews adapted to the weather conditions by firing up the burners, creating flames that generated plenty of 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the crowd.
"It's still nice to see the candlestick burn," Valdez said.
While there was no glow, balloonists were still happy to be at the golf course.
It's just something to do on Christmas Eve with the crew, hot air balloon pilot Barbara Fricke said.
"It's fun."
'There's no number on it'
Across the arroyo were luminarias set up in the shape of a heart honoring lost loved ones like Rosario Zito, who was shot and killed during an August 2022 robbery outside his popular Southeast Heights restaurant, Giovanni's Pizzeria.
Rosario's widow, Dana Zito, was helping place the luminarias with her brother Kersting, as the sun continued to set.
"I think in general, there's like five stages of grief," he said.
"Well," she said. "There's no number on it."
Zito said that while she has gone through the roller coaster of grief stages ranging from denial to shock, she has reached acceptance.
"Everybody will grieve sometime in their life," she said. "We don't know when, but I just want people to know that they are not alone and there's help out there if they need it. Or, they can stay around positive people."
The new year is right around the corner and for Dana Zito and her family that potentially means reliving some painful memories. In July, the trial for Zito's alleged killer, Sylvan Alcachupas, will begin.
"I don't know how to prepare for it," she said. "You just try and stay around positive people and just know that justice will do its job.
"It's only so much we can control."
