Wouldn’t you know it, just when I thought I was getting a packet of love letters for Mother’s Day, I received a large envelope with instructions and a guest. My mission, should I choose to accept, was to take Flat Stanley, the guest, around Glosta. Let him see where Basil’s Momo lives.
Frankly, I was not interested, since I’d never heard of this kid, who’d been flattened by a bulletin board. After reading the whole assignment, I learned Flat Stanley’s the star of a series of books by Jeff Brown, besides, how could I refuse Basil and the good intentions of his first grade teacher? So, with temperatures in the 90s, you-know-who and I headed to the beach.
We went early for obvious reasons. Noticed some taking a wide berth around us, as I wedged Flat Stanley into a crevice in some pilings for a photo op. Felt eyes upon me when I told my guest to “stay put” while I fumbled with my camera. Must’ve looked like I’d just escaped from some locked facility.
We scooped up sand from Good Harbor Beach, headed to the Maritime Museum, even sat in a rocker made from lobster traps. After awhile, I tucked him into the journal in my purse for a nap and protection from wear and tear.
Don’t know if he slept.
I did.
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Oh Jan, I love this! I can’t believe, with all the grandchildren, you are only just now experiencing Flat Stanley! We met him when our youngest was 6 or 7, only a couple years after we returned from Poland. Then later my colleague at work asked me to take her grandson’s Flat Stanley to Hawaii! Imagine Flat Stanley with an orchid lei at the airport and with the Spouting Horn in the background. Those memories make me smile, and I’m so happy you and Flat Stanley had a good outing around Glosta!!
Once I took a pretty much life size Stanley to Williamsburg. The guard at the courthouse near the stocks said Stanley spends a lot of time in those stocks. . More recently, teachers have figured out how to make flat Stanley only the size of a piece of construction paper . Much much easier to take places .
Oh my goodness, Flat Stanley has traveled more miles than me!! OUR lucky ‘Stan’ went to the beach at Independence Park Beverly, and the lobster pound where the sweet, accommodating fish monger pulled the largest lobster from the ‘pool’ and had his picture taken while holding favorite boy Stanley. Lucky Stanley……and he travels for free!!!
Now THAT is laugh out loud funny!!! I think you should post the pictures here.
You are the BEST Momo, Jan.
This is just “too cute” !!!! And you are such a good sport! Basil will be thrilled about all of Stanley’s adventures with you !!
Jan, I really enjoyed reading of your recent experience with “Flat Stanley”. Two summers ago at our church, St. John’s Lutheran Poughkeepsie NY, everyone was offered a laminated cardboard “Flat Jesus” to take with them wherever they went.
Photos were posted on the church web-site as well as printed & placed on display in the hallway near our “Meet & Greet” room. It was awesome!
My last encounter with Flat Stanley was when he climbed Pike’s Peak with me two years ago. It was snowy and windy, and he almost got away as I was trying to take his picture.
I won’t bore you with the details, but Flat Stanley went to Alaska with us a few years ago. There are lots of ways to love our grandchildren and loving their friend, Flat Stanley, is one of them. I liked the idea he was flat when I got him, since this was his condition at the end.
Blessings, Dale
What a good momo!