“To unravel the twisting, turning history (of the boomerang), you’d have to travel back in time. You’d slip back to an age before there were airplanes, before there were cars, before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. You’d travel to a place where America wasn't yet known, to a time long before William the Conqueror subdued England in 1066. You wouldn’t even recognize the world you'd enter, the primitive, murky horizons of ancient man.”

This is how I began ’Bout Boomerangs: America’s Silent Sport. When I started writing this book, I had no idea how much information I would learn, or how many quirky and intriguing people I would meet. During the book’s creation, I actually interviewed over fifty people in several different countries, by phone, email or in person–and I’m flattered to report that, out of the book’s 3,000 hardcover sales, one or more occurred in twenty-one different countries! At the world boomerang competition that was held in Missouri, fledglings and champions from various countries of all ages and both genders bought copies of the book and then signed them for one another–sort of a boomerang yearbook, I guess.

Speaking of boomerang competitors, did you know that there are now national boomerang associations in twenty-five different countries around the globe? Talk about a universal language.

What’s especially awesome about boomerangs is that they are used in sport–but are also a fascinating demonstration of science, a glorious art form, and a vital part of our historical and cultural heritage. Boomerangs, which were never intended to be used as a weapon–or their close cousin, the kylie, which was–have been found in Australia, which isn’t surprising, but also in dusty Polish caves and in King Tut’s pyramid, which might be. The shattered stick in the cave was over 20,000 years ago and conjures up visions of our shadowy ancestors facing the mighty mammoth with a stone-fluted stick; the ones from the tomb gleam of ebony, ivory and gold, and whisper of mystery, elegance and royalty. I can almost hear the chanting and smell the incense!

The boomerang . . . the stick that flies in a circle and then returns to its thrower . . . is an incredible invention, a gently curved object that predates airplane wings by thousands of years, and yet relies upon the same basic principles of flight. A boomerang brings together people who can’t speak the same language, who understand none of the same cultures and share none of the same lifestyles; nevertheless, put them together on a wide open field, with the scent of spring in the air, and watch the kinship develop.

Don’t take my word for this phenomenon. I encourage you to investigate this for yourself. Go to www.usba.org or www.flight-toys.com/boomerangs.htm to check out two of the most informative boomerang websites around. I doubt that you’ll be disappointed.

Regardless of what you decide, please take with you the boomerang thrower’s blessing of “full circles to you!” I hope that whatever good you throw out in life is returned to you in double measure.