Sunday
Jan022011
Paper and String
January 2, 2011 * * * * * Posted by: Marcie 
It arrived on a warm winter’s day. A box simply wrapped. Something exciting - I thought…I hoped – as I rushed to open it in great anticipation and expectation of its precious contents. What a surprise to find nothing other than a long spool of thread-like string and a cut-out paper shape attached to its end. I looked for the cable connector..an attachment that would connect to the Wii or TV. I searched for its purpose and meaning..but it appeared that it was nothing other than what it revealed itself to be. Simple paper and simple string.
The recent snow we’d received was slowly melting. The sun was shining. The sandy beach was beckoning. It seemed the perfect time and space to see what this new ‘toy’ might be. This gift.
Carefully – I laid it on the ground..my hands holding tight to the string. When all of a sudden with a burst of unexpected wind…the paper took flight. Up and up..higher and higher. It floated. It soared. It sailed.
As it dipped and swirled and whirled in the wind..I began to imagine myself perched on its wings. There – far and above the world where there is nothing but blue skies and clouds and birds flying. I imagined looking down at the little people..all of them wishing to be up here with me. Flying free. What fun – I thought – that would be.
No school. No rules. No expectations. I could – on the wings of my kite – be anyone I dreamed I might be. A heroic knight(ess)…flying in to rescue her dame in distress. A magical floating fairy princess…in search of her dream. A bird..graceful and strong..with its great wings flapping silently. Or perhaps – I could be an astronaut..one of the first girls to fly herself to the moon. Or – at the very least – the first one to fly across the ocean on nothing other than wishes and paper strings. Up there - where the air was bright - the question of what I might ‘do’ with my life held no meaning. All that mattered was that I could ‘be’ anything I dared.
I laughed at the kite. It laughed right back at me. Beckoning me to join it in its wild adventure. A free spirit and soul. It had a heart and a mind of its own. One minute..flying so high I was afraid it might disappear. The next..plunging itself nose first …sometimes skimming and oftentimes bumping along the ground before carrying itself up and away. Such an exciting ride – the ups and downs and all of those in betweens that have no words to descibe them.
In my mind – I go back to that day often. That day that was filled with wonderment and awe and joy and dreaming. That day when it felt as if anything was possible. That day that I learned that life is nothing other than a ride on the wings of a kite. One minute up..the next minute down..never quite knowing where the winds might take me. Bumpy. Unpredictable. Falling and hitting that ground may sting and hurt..but that I can always pick ourselves up and catch the next bit of wind that might carry me. Not always the ride I expect or wish for..but always the ride that is mine.
A day _ as I recall - when all of life’s lessons arrived in one very unimportant-looking little box. A little paper. A little string. A little imagination and a lot of wild dreams. I could go anywhere my heart might take me.
I CAN FLY!
Reader Comments (15)
What a great story and dito photo Marcie
Wise words Marcie!! And you have wrapped them in a beautiful story. Mary Poppins (yeah, you can laugh at me for taking this example) already said it: 'Let's go fly a kite'. And girl, was she right. Just as you are. Sp spread your wings and fly away, far away!!
To Marion I'd say, most of us remember Mary Poppins with great fondness and would never laugh at her but smile with the thought of flying a kite. :) There is so much wonderful symbolism here in your image and post, Marcie. The thing is, it's just fun to fly a kite! If we could likewise say it's just fun to live, regardless of the ups and downs or bumps, maybe we'd know the secret of Life. It's a positive attitude. It's seeing Mary Poppins in our everyday living...and how can we NOT smile! I love it.
You are a writer! How beautifully you express the freedom to dream free of expectations.
This line stands out for me: "the question of what I might ‘do’ with my life held no meaning." It captures the period of life I'm now entering in which I'm free of the need to define what to "do" with my life. There is freedom in knowing I have limited time left--the freedom to be whoever I want, however I want. wherever I want. There is too little time left to worry about "oughts."
The photo goes well with the writing. Love the sweep of kites, and the yellow boots. (Wish child were not smack in the center.)
Thanks!!!
What I thought about as I read this was the smile on your face. First, the glimmer in your eye when you thought of the post, then the grin I imagined as you wrote it. Those inner moments of joy that ooze onto our faces from a private conversation that pleases. It is my imaginary Marcie nodding in agreement at the beautiful metaphor of life as a kite and knowing that we, her reader, will do the same.
I am smiling too. Thanks, Marcie.
Thanks for the inspiration this morning. Your post helped me focus on how to begin my one word post for 2011.
Wonderful words on flights of fancy and beautiful imagery. I find myself wishing for more uncomplicated times. Happy New Year Marcie!
How lovely, Marcie. I think it is so important for all of us to remember our young girl selves, to tap in to what first made our hearts soar and to always keep in touch with our imaginations.
"wonderment and joy and awe and dreaming"... who could ask for more than that on this ride of life? Have a beautiful year.
While I read your post I thought how beautifully it is written. It made me "live" in it, feeling the flight, the freedom, even the bumps. A beautiful and also soothing image for the "first day back to routine" of the year.
Happy new year, Marcie.
you know, i don't have a word for 2011...not sure that I will, although i have many thoughts and ideas for what i want to do (those i am not short of :). but i do love the idea that everything is possible. i started this year, actually ended last year, feeling a new surge of creativity, wanting to write more, photograph more, create more. confidence plays a large part in that, confidence to go forward with all of it. and have to thank V&V for that :)
lovely. the images of a kite dipping and swaying is exactly how we see it, never bouncing along the ground waiting for a gust of wind, always floating up high! great post, beautifully written.
I totally thought I commented on this last night, but I got distracted looking for the lyrics to I Believe I Can Fly, which is what was running through my head all day yesterday after I started reading.
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar...
Soar on, Marcie!!
i am in love with this image, the photo itself, and then the one you have painted with your words. you can fly, you do, with your photos and your words.
I fly on the wings of your images and words Marcie.....
Your vision and verb fit so well together. Not just the image of the words themselves, but also the feeling, the mood. so well done!