Old Memories and a touch of Joy

There are certain things that bring remembered joy and occasionally the memory comes right to the forefront simply because of something we see, feel, taste, hear that brings it back as if it were just yesterday.

Kite flying!  Beautiful, brightly coloured, lightweight forms that catch the wind and up, up, up it goes.  It is not without a little talent to keep it airborne. The immense joy at a successful launch is one thing but keeping it up brings out a whole other level of accomplishment.  Riding the wind just right and it can go higher and higher.  I googled kite flying to get a pretty picture, the first thing that popped up was the instructions on how to fly a kite.  So without wasting time I read the four simple steps, smiled, and laughed thinking however did we learn how to do this before having a computer look up the steps!  Then there were instructions on the best way to fly a kite.  The site that did pique my interest was where to buy the best kite.  Turns out there is the best Kite shop, I went online to look and singe my fingers at the price tags!  I am sure the plastic contraption (it was white with big round-looking eyes) that I had as a child did not cost much and could fly as well as any of these less cost-effective options that I viewed (they sure were pretty though!)

So what brings about this you may well wonder.  Kite flying is not something that I see a lot of even though there are quite a few windy days, but today a young family were attempting to get a kite airborne.  The little boy was super excited when it crashed and ran to collect it but when his Dad finally got it soaring in the air there was a little awe happening.  Several of us, Aslan and I as well as another man and his dog, stopped to admire the sight and neither of the dogs wanted to leave the park so fascinated were they.

I could not help but wonder why more people don't participate in this simple activity, I wondered why I no longer have a kite.  Did I say simple?  The kite shop would have me know it is not so simple.  Apparently, there is the single-line kite, sport kite, snow, surf, and traction to choose from.  Somehow I remember it being much simpler.  It was a great activity that kept us busy on beautiful windy days when we were in our cabin where we were safely away from power lines, had endless barrens and swampy bogs to run freely, and let's not forget the essential wind power to get that kite in the air and then learn the skill to keep it there riding the wind. 

It can be a  simple, inexpensive activity. (Little did I know until the forced research)  A little help from nature with the wind power.  Patience and perseverance to keep the kite in the air and hours of fun for those so inclined.  As I convinced Aslan to keep walking I wondered just where I might find an inexpensive kite these days --I am sure google will be more than happy to help -- and maybe just maybe I will give it a try to see if I still have the skill to keep it flying.

The Kite 

How bright on the blue

Is a kite when it’s new!

With a dive and a dip

It snaps its tail

Then soars like a ship

With only a sail

As over tides

Of wind it rides,

Climbs to the crest

Of a gust and pulls,

Then seems to rest

As wind falls.

When string goes slack

You wind it back

And run until

A new breeze blows

And its wings fill

And up it goes!

How bright on the blue

Is a kite when it’s new!

But a raggeder thing

You never will see

When it flaps on a string

In the top of a tree.

                                                                                                      By Harry Behn