As you know, if you’ve been following my blog for the last few weeks (you are so kind, all six of you), I’m very much into the Europe thing since our Danube River Cruise in early November. But time is of the essence. Europe is on the back burner today(variety is the space of life, after all) while I take you someplace new and different.
Actually, there’s someone new (and very different) I want you to meet (no, not my adorable great niece who just joined the family eight days ago; too soon for visitors).
Actually, there’s someone new (and very different) I want you to meet (no, not my adorable great niece who just joined the family eight days ago; too soon for visitors).
Say hello to Flat Stanley. He arrived about eight days ago, too, although in his case, via the U.S. Postal Service. Jimmy and I are going to show him a good time for the next week, then he’s back home to Denver.
With his literary background, Flat Stanley spent his first few days with us in our bookcase.
He is flat out ready for fun, and so well-traveled. In fact he’s probably racked up enough miles to put him on Pluto, that less-than-planatary object way out there in space; Flat Stanley has been traveling the world (no space travel yet) since 1995.
What took you so long to get here, Flat Stanley?
Let’s go back to 1995 (to chia plants and hair scrunchies) to answer that question. That was the year third grade teacher Dale Hubert introduced his students to his now highly popular Flat Stanley Project. Teachers are so clever! To give credit where credit is due, the character Flat Stanley was the brainchild of children’s author Jeff Brown in 1964.
As the story goes, Flat Stanley wasn’t always two dimensions. Stanley Lambchop, as he was called before his life-altering accident, was a normal boy (as far as literary characters go) who went to bed one night and woke up the next morning flatter than a pancake. Seems the bulletin board above his bed fell on Stanley during the night and squished him to within a half inch of his life. I hate when that happens!
Actually, Flat Stanley rather liked this turn of events since he could now slip under locked doors; play with his younger brother Arthur as a kite flying high above the trees; visit his friends via the U.S. mail.
Fast forward almost 40 years and Canadian Dale Hubert is receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001. I hope they paid this guy what he’s worth!
With Flat Stanley now literary ambassador at over 6000 schools in 88 countries, it's obvious this guy really goes the distance for the price of a postage stamp. I am so envious! Flat Stanley always returns to his home school with all kinds of exciting stories and pictures of the people and places he visits. He is so 21st century, he’s even gone mobile! I rather like the version we have visiting.
Pretty soon, every kid (okay, maybe not every kid; just the lucky few) out there was getting in on the act. It just took a few decades for my kids to have kids, and then another few decades for my grandson Logan to be the first in our family to meet Flat Stanley and send him my way.
Convoluted story, but worth the wait, don’t you think?
Flat Stanley and I are now patiently waiting for Jimmy to get the show on the road. Jimmy has been holed up in the basement with Fidelity, 24-7. I say, kick her to the curb. She’s been less than faithful these last few months after taking off all spring and summer. The nerve! She is usually so full of hot air, and now suddenly she’s blowing cold. No, this is not another Sister-Wives episode.
Jim finally took my advice and traded her in for a younger, shinier, high efficiency model/furnace.
What took you so long to get here, Flat Stanley?
Let’s go back to 1995 (to chia plants and hair scrunchies) to answer that question. That was the year third grade teacher Dale Hubert introduced his students to his now highly popular Flat Stanley Project. Teachers are so clever! To give credit where credit is due, the character Flat Stanley was the brainchild of children’s author Jeff Brown in 1964.
As the story goes, Flat Stanley wasn’t always two dimensions. Stanley Lambchop, as he was called before his life-altering accident, was a normal boy (as far as literary characters go) who went to bed one night and woke up the next morning flatter than a pancake. Seems the bulletin board above his bed fell on Stanley during the night and squished him to within a half inch of his life. I hate when that happens!
Actually, Flat Stanley rather liked this turn of events since he could now slip under locked doors; play with his younger brother Arthur as a kite flying high above the trees; visit his friends via the U.S. mail.
Fast forward almost 40 years and Canadian Dale Hubert is receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001. I hope they paid this guy what he’s worth!
With Flat Stanley now literary ambassador at over 6000 schools in 88 countries, it's obvious this guy really goes the distance for the price of a postage stamp. I am so envious! Flat Stanley always returns to his home school with all kinds of exciting stories and pictures of the people and places he visits. He is so 21st century, he’s even gone mobile! I rather like the version we have visiting.
Pretty soon, every kid (okay, maybe not every kid; just the lucky few) out there was getting in on the act. It just took a few decades for my kids to have kids, and then another few decades for my grandson Logan to be the first in our family to meet Flat Stanley and send him my way.
Convoluted story, but worth the wait, don’t you think?
Flat Stanley and I are now patiently waiting for Jimmy to get the show on the road. Jimmy has been holed up in the basement with Fidelity, 24-7. I say, kick her to the curb. She’s been less than faithful these last few months after taking off all spring and summer. The nerve! She is usually so full of hot air, and now suddenly she’s blowing cold. No, this is not another Sister-Wives episode.
Jim finally took my advice and traded her in for a younger, shinier, high efficiency model/furnace.
This is where things have been happening for the last week - the basement!
Flat Stanley and I agree - better her than me!
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