Such a fabulous day with a group of 6 kids (5 competitors, one helper) and Tina Wallace (our laudable bus driver) & me. We got to Metro and got our Smartcards (that is always a daunting task but it was not yet crowded at all). Couple kids had never been on or had even heard of the Metro. We all got out at Smithsonian and the wind was just picking up. Found registration table and started testing kites. When competition begins I saw a worrisome sight: a young Japanese girl with a frilly cherry blossom shaped kite, wearing a matching sweater! When her turn came, you could see the years of growing up in a kite culture, she was the winner-hands down. But our kids did us proud, their kites lifted into the air and they flew them like professionals! It was a perfect day and even if none of them placed, just watching their kites climb, taking their full attention, pulling themselves into the sky with it- in the middle of a 2-acre field surrounded by hordes of people and kites -at the foot of the Washington Monument! That is worth more than any prize.

Afterward, we walked past cherry trees to the Castle to give our regards to Mr. Smithson. We eventually got back on Metro in a huge crowd of people! We didn't care, mission accomplished! Fly High, stay high.