Janet Strayer: Go Fly a Kite! in Italy

Summer in the Umbrian Countryside

Summer has suddenly burst through in Umbria, with hot, sunny days after a long spell of thunderstorms, rain, and chill. Spending my final weeks here in the beautiful Umbrian hills, I'm taking in all I can of my surroundings... while rampant mosquitoes get their fill of me. Reciprocity.

What's Kite-Flying Got to Do with It?

An Italian friend invited me to an unusual event in a nearby village of Toscolano. It was to be a slide-illustrated presentation on kite-making, followed by a luncheon for all attending. YES!

This was just the kind of out-of-the-ordinary event to rival conventional ideas that might be creeping in about Italian life. That the invitation came from a rather reserved and distinguished, mature Italian woman made it all the more charming.

We drove together to the event (me silently remarking on how competently fast she took the hillside curves, compared to my more tentative and foreign driving habits).

A small, 15th C. chapel was open near the venue, with some semi-restored frescoes lining its walls. As I've said before, there is always something remarkable in almost every locale you set upon here.

chapel in Toscolano with my friend, Anna Giovanni

After being introduced to the event organizers (friends of my friend), we joined about 50 other people of all ages seated together at long tables. Not only were we to hear a presentation, we were also going to make and decorate kites ourselves! What a kick for adults who'd never thought to play like this! My rather reserved friend was, at first, a bit embarrassed by the idea, but then got fully into it. Good for her. And what fun to see the transition of all of us into child-like seekers and makers of objects that would fly.

my kite in progress

We were given the materials and instructions while the rather wonderful history of kite-making flashed on the large screen. Everyone set to work, everyone earnest in their playful attempts to make a kite that might fly... and one decorated in our own way.

A fine novel, the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, came to mind, along with thoughts of the meaning and value of kite-flying in human history. Leonardo, Benjamin Franklin. Kites in all cultures of the world, especially as featured in China and Japan, throughout the far-east, and elsewhere. Their transformations.

When our kites were finished, with streamers and string attached, we went to a nearby field to test them for real. The test: Would they fly?

A hot sun was beating down on the field. I took off my shoes and tried to run in the grass with my kite held high Seeing my lame attempt to get my kite to fly, a young boy came over and asked if he could fly it. Indeed, yes. And so he did! Around and around he ran, delighted. And delighted me.

and so it flew...

The Take-Away Message

If there's meaning in kite-flying (of course there is), here's what I make of this experience. It's the importance of play, of exploration, of seemingly unimportant things. Of friends and new acquaintances. You never know what may fly.