Each of the guys relaxed and nodded. David, Carlos and Sebastien returned to their dressing rooms and found the same things in theirs as well. Each note had been carefully written and signed by their wives. The garment bag held a new suit, dress shirt, and matching silk tie. The small silver box held a set of silver cufflinks, each had their initials engraved on them. The picture frame held a small photo of each couple on their wedding day. Sebastien and Carlos also had a small photo of their babies as well. As they rested their head on the pillow, they noticed the smell of their wives favorite cologne. Sighing contently, each took a moment to relish what their family had done, before they changed into the new suits for the opening event. There would be no need for make-up until later; the lights on the stage would be minimal until that evening. Thirty minutes later, the men of Il Divo took one last look in the mirror, turned off the lights, and quietly walked out of the back exit of their dressing room. The Il Divo SUV was waiting to take them to their starting point. It was now 2:30 pm.

The few miles trip to the top of the next ridge was quiet, each Divo remembering the note, the words to the opening song, and the concert about to happen. The driver busied himself with navigating the fire path cut between the trees, not looking back at them and chatting as he had done before. Soon, they stopped and got out of the SUV, seeing the large, yellow and green hot air balloon they would use to make their entrance.

“OK… I’m sorry, but that basket that will be holding us seems a lot smaller this afternoon. Are you sure it will hold us… all of us… at one time? I’m a big guy… and we have… “

Carlos laughed, interrupting him. “Of course Davey, boy... It’s SRO on the concert grounds and SRO for us.”

Urs said, “What is SRO?”

“Standing Room Only” Carlos replied, clapping him lightly on the shoulder. “It is a small but vocal crowd from that I understand… Every seat is taken for the whole thing; a record-breaker ticket sale and a record-breaking number of viewers on TV stations from all around the globe.”

“Go figure…” David replied, straightening his tie for the third time. “My God Carlos… I just noticed, you’re wearing a tie… an honest to goodness tie!”

Carlos blushed, touching it lightly, “Don’t get used to it. Cyd bought it special… otherwise, it wouldn’t be happening… I wear it only for her, even though I know she likes it better without one.

The crew manning the balloon launch gathered around David, Urs, Sebastien, and Carlos. One of the crew stepped up, holding out his hand. “Good afternoon gentlemen. I’m Charlie, you pilot for the trip. I need to tell you a few things before you get in. First, I’ve been doing this for 25 years without a problem. Second, conditions are ideal for us. Third, there will be two rescue vehicles on the ground following our every move by sight and radio. The landing area has been cleared and a full crew is waiting there. Lastly, we have rigged two types of tethers to the basket so even if conditions should change in the three mile trip, we won’t be going anywhere unplanned. We’ll only be about 100 to 125 feet up. The tethers are weighted and we can drop them over the edge in seconds to drop altitude and land. Personally, I prefer landing at the landing zone, but hey, a scout is prepared. Or, if you prefer, we can stay tethered to the rescue vehicles, hopefully not encounter any electrical lines and your entrance looks like a balloon in the Rose Bowl Parade…Your call.”

Urs laughed loudly, picturing the image in his mind. Sebastien blushed, covering the giggle erupting from his lips. David looked to the ground, and nodded, agreeing the image was something he hadn’t considered either.
Carlos crossed his arms across his chest, “Hey, I say we go for it. No bowl parade for me… I’m not wasting this tie for that.”

The others agreed. Moments later, they were harnessed in and the balloon began to rise. The view as the balloon reached the right altitude was spectacular. The farm and the field where the concert was to take place lie before them, so close they felt as if they could almost touch it.

Mark, the orchestra’s conductor once again, stood ready on the stage, scanning for the first sign to start the now traditional opening Medley. As the bright yellow and green balloon came into view, he signaled the orchestra and Il Divo Band members. The music began at 3 pm.

The announcer’s voice came across the sound system. “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Dare to Care. I would like to introduce your hosts for the duration of this event. Please welcome, IL DIVO now appearing to your right.”

The hot air balloon had safely landed in the field to the right of the audience. The guys waved as the crowd came to their feet with thunderous applause. The guys walked quickly from the balloon landing area, through the crowd and onto the stage as the last notes of the opening Medley faded.

The microphones were already in place and turned on for the guys. Each one took their place and smiled, slightly out of breath from the exciting ride in the balloon combined with the rush through the crowd to the stage.

As the lighting dimmed around the orchestra behind them, Sebastien begins. “Ladies and gentlemen here at the concert and watching from your homes around the globe, on behalf of myself and the other member’s of IL DIVO I would like to thank you and welcome you. What you are about to see on the big screens behind us in the hours ahead may shock or frighten you. That is not our intent. As much as we would love to, we can’t save the whole world. But, we can help some of them in need now. Will you Open Your Heart and Care? We dare you. Will you please join with us and Dare to Care?”

Il Divo’s opening song is “I Believe in You”