Let's Go Fly A Kite

Let’s Go Fly A Kite

A song made popular by the movie Mary Poppins in the 1960’s was Let’s go fly a kite. The chorus went like this.

Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

I remember singing it quite often but I don’t think we ever sang it on our kite flying adventures. Our kites were simple: plastic sheeting stretched over balsa wood cross pieces. We used a torn sheet for a tail, tied in bows along a string.

The wind needed to be just right as we ran along to help our kites get airborne. Many times they would circle and flop to the ground, lying inanimate until picked up and set free for another attempt. YES! The wind caught and lifted the kite. More line was played out as the kites began to shrink from sight. An average spool of kite string was a mere couple hundred feet. Not being satisfied, we purchased more and added to our kite’s tether. The kites soared as we had a competition of sorts. How far would the kite fly? We could barely see them, flying so high, tugging for their freedom.

“Vicki! Julie! Dennis! Supper!”  Before cell phones it was common practice for parents to summon their children by calling out the back door.  “Coming!” We answered. We began the arduous process of reeling in the kites. Having a taste of tethered freedom, the kites fought the process. The string was wound on the handles and the kites came into view. Finally, back on the ground they were quickly gathered up as we raced through the trees to hurry home for supper.