Something there is in the American soul that soars with kites that soar! Poet Joyce Carol Oates wrote those words, but 88-year-old Micki Riddick embodied them at Saturday’s Wind Festival.
It wasn’t just that Micki put down her cane to wander Ocean Park for two hours under her kite, it was the expression on her face as she did it, her son in law following her around as best he could. Micki has been coming to Oak Bluffs for more than 60 years, her daughter Cheryl Riddick Cross said, but this was surely one of her best days here.
Micki made her own kite from a specially-produced page of the Vineyard Gazette, which was a sponsor of the festival. Though registered in the age category 16 years and up, Micki was not able to get to Ocean Park for the 4 p.m. fly-off in her division. See you next year, Micki!
The festival was blown forward a week thanks to Irene. Fair winds last weekend drew plenty of flyers for a wonderful success in the first of what organizers hope to be an annual event. The winners were:
Highest flying kite: Isabella Steinberg of Edgartown (11 years and under), Theo Hankerson of Taunton (12-15) and Lemuel Evans of Las Vegas, Nev. (16-plus).
Largest flying kite: Oliver Halperin of Dedham (12-15) and Mark Halperin of Vineyard Haven (16-plus).
Smallest flying kite: Sophia Edwards of Quincy (11 and under), Levi Tuck of Huntington, N.Y. (12-15) and Gaurav-Malik (16-plus).
Most creative kite: Nathan Szpak of Edgartown (11 and under), Kai Davino-Collins (12-15) and John Baldi of Weymouth (16-plus).
Best flying “green” kite: Elliot Tuck (12-15) and David Larson of Glastonbury, Conn. (16-plus).
Best flying Gazette kite: Tomori Karlini-Buchanan (11 and under), Elliot Tuck (12-15) and Rodney Ward of Somerville (16-plus).
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