Cinderella at the Ball
There is magic in my life. How else can I explain the wonderful set of circumstances that gave me a "Cinderella at the Ball" experience the first week of October, 2001. The miracle of the National AKA Convention being held in Billings, 400 miles from home, seems magical in and of itself. But to attend as a kitemaker. Well, that exceeded any magic I had ever hoped for myself.
AKA comprehensive kitemaking rules states that for a train to compete in that category it must consist of at least five kites. I had four done as of the Labor Day weekend, one of which was my original piecemealed creation which really wasn’t anywhere near competition quality. So I had a month to sew the last two additions to "Native Tribute." I think my fairy godmother and the mice must have sewn on the kites while I was sleeping because Ogallala Pride and Lakota Blessings were completed in time to catch my carriage to Billings.
And I did travel to Billings in Cinderella style. My carriage was a great big
beautiful red pickup truck, owned and
driven
by a prince of a fellow, Don Murphy, AKA Director of Region 7 from LaVista,
Nebraska. He and traveling partner, Bruce Kenkel, were kind enough to take the
north route to Billings and pick me up on the way. So I had the two best escorts
a girl had ever dreamt of to attend her first national convention. Bruce is the
wise man who suggested I take the latest issue of Kiting and get signatures from
conference attendees as a way of meeting people.
We arrived in Billings prior to the sun rising on Monday, October 1st. We parked the carriage just below the airport on a bluff overlooking the City of Billings to catch a few winks before starting the day. The city lights shown like thousands of diamonds. And after sleeping for a couple of hours, we woke to the site of a sun drenched city and the alpenglow of the Rocky Mountains. Everything seemed touched by gold and seemed to set the tone for the rest of the week.
Magical Monday began with a visit to the flying fields and an introduction to
Sam and Ann Ritter. I know I embarrassed myself all week at the joy I
experienced meeting so many great people. Everyone was so kind and gracious and
welcoming to me. These people were my heros, names in magazines that I had only
been able to
read about from my isolation in the middle of nowhere on the North Dakota
Prairie. Monday also brought me a tour of the kite display in the Billings
Airport Terminal conducted by none other than Scott Skinner. Sam Huston and his
wife joined Don, Bruce, and I for Scott’s very entertaining tour. From there it
was to the early bird reception and my all too obvious newbie responses to the
"kite stars" that were in attendance.
Terrific Tuesday was a kite workshop in the morning, mass ascension and kite
tuning in the
afternoon and a fun visit with John and Mary Gabby. I began the process of
gathering signatures of convention attendees and was even brave enough to ask
Brian Champie for his autograph. I have been in awe of Brian’s flying skills for
years and to meet him was a highlight of the convention.
Wonderful Wednesday is a great big star day in my life. Just attending the
"Before Judging Kitemaking Workshop" was a thrill. Being able to listen to Steve
Ferrel and Jon Burkhardt talk about the fine points of kitemaking was an
enriching experience. Rather intimidating also for this newcomer to the craft.
The afternoon began the comprehensive kitemaking competition. Don Murphy
continued in his prince role and helped me get my train ready for judging. He
also reminded me often to breathe. I was a bundle of nerves. I
think
my greatest fear was that the kites wouldn’t fly or that I would fly them into
all the other trains and ruin the competition for everyone. Finally it was time
and the kites were launched. "Native Tribute" took to the sky and sat there with
only a couple of baubles and bumps. And it didn’t take too long before I
realized that people liked what they saw. It was a thrill of a lifetime to have
my kites in the sky and people enjoying the image that was created. Don again
had to remind me to breath and at times had to hold me up so that I wouldn’t
drop to my knees in all the excitement. I remember even getting a hug or two
from a couple of the judges who seemed genuinely touched by my awe and
excitement. John and Mary Gabby shared my giggles and I believe took pride in
what they were
able to mentor. There were great entries in the category so placing in the top
three was never something I thought possible. The win for me was showing my
kites and knowing that people liked what they saw. But the excitement didn’t
abate when the competition ended. Charlie Dunton approached me and invited me to
fly my train at a special fly that was being scheduled at the site of the Battle
of the Little Big Horn. Being an avid student of Native American history I knew
of the significance of flying at the Greasy Grass. I was honored to be invited.
And I was also on the high of a lifetime. I even enjoyed the business meeting
that was held later that evening. Sleep was slow to arrive that night.
Tremendous
Thursday dawned cold and blustery. It was a good morning for attending John and
Mary Gabby’s "Little Festival Feathers" workshop. Then it was off to the flying
field and I settled in on the sidelines of the sport kite competitions. It may
not have been a good day to fly, cold, swirling winds, but I had the time of my
life. Getting to watch Brian Champie fly Masters Individual Precision and then
watching the Avispados and other
pairs and teams fly was great. Sport kite
flying was my first love and is what first attracted me to the kite world so to
spend the day in that venue was just adding that much more magic to my
experience. The evening was spent at the fly market and doing a little
socializing. Mary Gabby had made festival feathers commemorating the anniversary
of the Battle of the Greasy Grass and offered them to me to distribute at the
special fly on Friday. We decided that a few more feathers were needed so we set
up sewing machines in the hallway outside of the fly market. It was there that I
had a great discussion with Mel Hickman and will always give him prince status
in my life. What a great guy and entertaining character.
Fantastic
Friday was the fly at the Little Big Horn. Don and his red carriage drove my
kites and me the 60 miles to the battlefield site. John and Mary Gabby were
there also to give assistance and to share the moment. Charlie Dunton, Jon
Burkhardt, Jerry Houk, and several other kitemakers launched kites into the sky
that gave honor and tribute to the Native American
culture. To have my little train join such an illustrious sky was a humbling
experience. But the ultimate moment happened when an elder of the tribe blest me
and my kites with burning sage. To be smudged at that place by such a holy man,
well, there was no way I could keep the tears of emotion from falling down my
face. The moment touched my soul completely and the magic of the moment is one I
carry in my heart forever
.
Stupendous Saturday was such a fun day. No pressure, beautiful sunshine,
great wind and lots of leisurely kite flying. I flew my train for the better
part of the afternoon and then headed for the banquet facility. Cinderella was
treated to the honor of being allowed to hang her train on the wall for People’s
Choice consideration. Don, John, and Mary helped me arrange the kites and I in
that process I got to flirt a little with Brian Champie. In response he took a
photo of me and my kites that was placed on his web site. (It was the first time
my kites showed up in cyberspace.) I was able to get back to the motel, get into
my black ball gown, and return to the convention center in time for the awards
banquet. I shared a table with other members of Region 7 and felt well taken
care of with Don right beside me. Our Region did very well with John and Mary
getting several awards and Chris
Dodson & Mike Gee (my fellow North Dakota fliers) each earned a trophy. I was
astounded when my train was announced as a 2nd place award winner in the train
category. But was astounded even further when it was announced that my train had
been given the highest individual score of competing kites in the area of visual
appeal. That trophy was truly a glass slipper and I felt as if I was wandering
blissfully in dreamland.
To the AKA and all the members who attended the National Convention at Billings, thank you. I had the time of my life.