flying

I discovered a new tool for staying in the present moment: kite flying.

I flew a kite for the first time with the M family a few months ago, which was a great introduction, but today I flew a huge kite with two lines. The friend who taught me was very patient as I learned how responsive the kite was to pulling on and releasing the tethers. We went to the tidal flats off the Spanish Banks at low tide and flew the kite over the shallow water-- as far away as we could get from the waders also enjoying the beach, to reduce the chance of me maiming anyone with my spectacularly torpedo-like crashes. My friend, R, graciously fetched the kite from the water every time I sent it hurtling into the sea. He taught me to fly with my body rather than with my eyes, really FEELING the wind pull on the left and right wings of the kite, rather than responding to what I saw (by which time it's often too late). It took my full attention. What a sweet, spiritual discipline it was, to think of nothing but the force of the wind and the sensation of flying. It was grand.