A friend who as granddaughters learning to read and write was invited to have an 'Adventure' over spring break with Flat Stanley. Stanley is a epynomous boy who has been on many world wide adventures over the years as a result of being small and flat enough to travel between the pages of a book, folded up in a pocket, carried in a purse/wallet. The original book was written in the 60's and though the inventor/author is deceased, there have been a number of follow up stories published over the years. Sort of like the little Travelocity mascot: you never know where he will turn up next.
When my Christmas gift of lady-bugs arrived early this week, they went to the Botanical Gardens to be released, late in the afternoon as instructed, when it was nearly dark, to give them a chance to acclimate and find food/water overnight. I asked the friend (retired elementary school teacher) who has been keeping Stanley company if she would go and observe - thinking that S. is the only person who might be as amused as I by the idea of freeing a hundreds of ready-to-fly ladybugs.
When I went by to pick her up on the way to the Gardens for the Big (non)Event, she had her camera and Stanley so he could participate and she could document the release to share with Allie when Stanley is mailed back to recount his adventures. It was nearly too dark to see, so the actual 'freeing' was mostly anti-climatic. But Stanley was there, and there are photos as proof. Having lady-bugs, harmless as they are, and advantageous as they might be to controlling garden pests - crawling up your arm will still give you the creeping willies.
Stanley was such a pleasant guy, mild-mannered and cooperative that I invited him to come and have a sleepover. That too, was pretty much a non-event. We just did the usual getting-ready-for-bed routine: saying good night to the cat sitting on the ladder, brushing teeth, putting on pj's, slipping under the covers. And got up in the morning to have coffee, brush teeth, get dressed, say hello to the cat sitting on the ladder, go off to work... all well documented with photos S. will print and make a book for Allie to have when she goes back to school and can tell about Stanley's adventures.
He is much more portable than a gnome. I have seen letters to the editor in local/regional magazines where people will go exotic places and have their photos taken holding up the cover on ocean cruises, the Great Wall, camel rides, glaciers calving, jungle excursions. I am sure some grandmother has documented Stanley traveling to all those unusual locales as well.... providing amusement for grandchildren: their prime occupation.
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