Why I Keep A Pirate In My Purse

By Lara

I have been notified that there was some question as to why I carry a pirate in my purse. Since Captain Jack and Boromir play a role in the year of the birthday items here and there, I suppose that is a reasonable inquiry. (See Beth's article for an explanation of why she keeps a prince of Gondor in her possession...)

When Beth's daughter was in the 4th grade, she had a project called "Flat Stanley." There are plenty of people with elementary school children who are intimately familiar with this project. Being an 8-year-old girl, however, Beth's daughter decided that her Flat Stanley just could not be a boy... because boys were gross. She named her paper doll Flat Stanleigh.

Flat Stanleigh was to be mailed to various places around the globe for interesting adventures. I had about two months with Flat Stanleigh. I took her to the Inner Harbor, Havre de Grace, Rocks State Park, Mariner Point Park, Susquehanna State Park, Washington DC, Seattle, Rome, Florence, Pompeii... All the usual places.

I also had some fun with Flat Stanley. I may have been a bad influence on her. While in my care, she flirted with attractive pirates at the Renaissance Fair as well as several waiters. I also took her to get a tattoo. That was mostly for Beth's amusement. I don't think those pictures made the cut for the class presentation.

Once I mailed Flat Stanleigh back to Beth, I missed having a mascot. There seemed to be an empty hole in my purse where Flat Stanley used to ride. I was sad.

In order to cheer me up, Steve took me mascot shopping at Target. I decided I needed a three-dimensional mascot for ease of photo posing. I browsed through the Star Wars action figures. I was hoping to get a Yoda, but they were fresh out of tiny green Jedis. That's when Steve saw Captain Jack Sparrow sitting alone on a shelf with his empty bottle of rum. He was perfect.

Since then, Captain Jack has been a part of many adventures. He's been to Germany, England, and Alaska. I'm sure that he will continue to accompany me in my year of the birthday travels. I just can't leave him lying around my house. My cat likes to chew on his head. It's a serious concern. Toby is much cuter than the Kraken, but much more persistent.

Comments

[Beth]

I hadn't realized Flat Stanleigh was so instrumental in your acquisition of Capt. Jack!! Ben will be in 4th grade this year, hopefully he'll have a Flat Stanley to send you too!