Resurrecting Ancient City Kite Society

Aaron and I will be going home Friday for a weekend visit. I was asked by several former students to attend their graduation on Saturday, and I have graciously accepted their invitation. However, this is not my primary motivation for going home... it was a convenient excuse.

My true reason? Caitlin.

It was difficult enough moving away from my parents, but it was just as painful to leave knowing my closest friend would be so far away.

About a year before I moved, after I had just gotten my teaching position at Menendez, Caitlin and I were seeing less of each other. We were no longer working together, and our schedules barely meshed. So, we decided to make a date at least once a week.

That date became the Ancient City Kite Society.

I remember sitting at Barnes and Noble looking at a book called Get a Hobby; there was an entry on kite-flying. Next thing, we were in the car on the way to Walmart, hell-bent on scouring the toy section for those flimsy plastic kites with cartoon characters and streamers-- a two dollar bit of nostalgia.

We went every week to the Castillo de San Marco to fly. It gave us an excuse to see each other, catch up, be outside-- relish a carefree moment.

Our plan, this Saturday, is to go out again, picnic packed, kites strapped to our backs like medieval shields, and take to the wind.

Oh man. It's going to be great.