A flat boy can do almost anything!
“Stanley Lambchop is an ordinary boy. At least he was, until the night his bulletin board fell off the wall and flattened him. All of a sudden, Stanley can slide under doors, mail himself across the country in an envelope, and fly like a kite!”
/Jeff Brown
A few years ago, our Grandson Tobin, was given an assignment from his Third Grade class. His teacher gave him several copies of a one-dimensional illustration of a children’s book character called, Flat Stan. He was asked to color Flat Stan and mail him off to his Grandparents. Then he asked us to take Flat Stan with us on our trip to Italy. And, be sure to allow Flat Stan to photobomb our Sicily pictures. Upon return we sent these photos back to Tobin. We told him about our adventures with Flat Stan in Taorimina, Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo, etc.
It was a fun assignment for Tobin and his Grandparents. But, wait. This isn’t the Stan I’m supposed to write about.
Our Stan isn’t flat. He’s actually multi-dimensional. He comes from the Bronx. Spent many years teaching the ways of the weather. I’m sure he knows about stratus clouds. The flat, featureless ones. They resemble a fog that hugs the horizon. Hey, maybe there is a connection to Flat Stan?
Our Stan is a funny man. Going back to North Carolina means we’ll miss his quips and limericks. Our writing group will have to find our own path to finding weekly prompts. Living up to Stan’s standards will not be easy.
He brought laughter and intelligence to our get togethers. And, puns. Oy ….. But, they were funny. And, he brought his writings from his heart and his soul. He opens our eyes and shares his curiosities.. All at once, he’s smart as a whip and kind of a character. And, in our world at Sun Valley East, he’s kind of a big deal.
We’ll miss you, Stan. Flat or otherwise. I heard Bernice thinks you’re slightly lumpy (in a good way). Travel safe to the mountains of North Carolina. Spread your Yiddishisms far and wide.. And, your knishes and blintzes to the mountain men and women.. Once they meet you their lives will never be the same. Hmmm .. is that a good thing?