This is my Punkinator with her Flat Stanley, made in honor of “F” week.

This is the coolest Unkle, Harry Parker, in the whole wide world.

Harry took Flat Stanley to the Bahamas with him while he coordinated stunt skydiving over a bay of sharks for a Japanese TV show.

Flat Stanley Arrives in the Bahamas

{a href="http://www.theharryparker.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

Here Flat hangs out with Aerial Cameraman Katsuhiko Kishi and Production Coordinator Ken Miyauchi before a test jump.

{a href="http://harryparkerphotography.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

Here Flat is networking, hanging out with the Star of the Japanese TV Show.  He is learning how to ‘work a room.’

{a href="http://harryparkerphotography.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

{a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oceanic_Whitetip_Shark.png"}The Atlantic White Tip Shark{/a}

Flat assists Ed Brooks from the Cape Eluthera Institute.  Ed and the institute study sharks with many stories and adventures.  A very expensive shark tag was released from an Atlantic White Tip Shark after 8 months!  The information is in valuable and is very important to the research.  Flat Stanley jumped at the chance to get on this adventure.  In this picture Ed uses a special device that talks to a satellite to help locate the shark tag, which has washed up on shore.

Make sure to check out the Cape Eluthera Institute.  They have school and learning programs and their research and work is invaluable in helping to save our oceans.

{a href="http://harryparkerphotography.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

Flat helps find the Shark Tag in record time!

{a href="http://harryparkerphotography.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

Flat says goodbye to cast and crew of Japanese TV Show.

{a href="http://harryparkerphotography.com/"}Photo By Harry Parker{/a}

Flat visits the local school, All Ages Rum Cay. Total number of children is 14 and their teacher is Ms. Strong.  The heart of the Rum Cay Community, Ms. Strong and her schoolhouse are the pillar of the community.  This is where Flat Stanley leaves Unkle Harry and sets sail on another adventure staying with the Rum Cay All Ages School.  (You can see all of his exciting Bahama pictures on Harry Parker’s Facebook page. )

Flat had so many stories of his new friends from the school.  Flat said they were some of the funnest kids ever.  And the school was one of the neatest he has ever seen.  Flat misses them all and Ms. Strong, the principal.  The treasures that came home with Flat was a great inside look at a school and it children so far away. Flat Stanley sent us a post card from The Bahamas and even some Bahamian money!

Thank you Ms. Strong and all the pupils of All Ages Rum Cay for taking care of our Flat Stanley and for taking the time to make and send all the cool gifts home with him.

Flat left the Bahamas and from there departed on a plane with Mr. Dan and Ms. Donna.  Here is a the letter:

Dear Gabrielle:

“My husband, Mr. Dan and I have a home on the island of Rum Cay.  We fly our plane (a Piper Cherokee Six), back and forth from the Bahamas to our horse ranch here in the states.  I met your uncle while he was at Rum Cay.  He is a very good photographer and a very nice man.  He took Flat Stanley to the Rum Cay All Age School.  I was volunteering at the school during that time preparing the children to sing at a special church service that took place on February 5th.   Because I was coming back to the states for a week and because it would be easier to send Flat Stanley from the US, the teacher gave me Stanley, the packet of cards and letters and asked me to send them to you.

See the 2 lil' Flat Stanley's?

Precious gifts from the children at Rum Cay school. See the Bahamian sand!

Along the way, we had a horrible problem with our airplane.   Our engine blew up while we were flying back to the US.  We were over Chub Cay (northern Bahamas) when it happened.  We were violently thrown back and forth as the engine vibrated to a stop.  Then oil spewed out all over the windshield and the engine stopped running.  We were able to see the runway out our side window and my husband (my hero) glided the plane to the runway.  We landed very hard because we were coming in high and too fast.  We could not control the plane very well.  I helped direct Dr. Dan to the runway because I had a little area of windshield in front of me that was not covered with oil.  God was truly holding us in the palm of His hand.  He protected us and got us on the ground safely.  Without  His love and protection, I am afraid that we and Flat Stanley would have ended up at the bottom of the ocean.  Our dog, Caly, was in the back of the plane with Flat Stanley.  I think they were holding hands, as they did not know what was happening (it happened so fast) and they were scared.

But the good news is that we made it safe and sound.  Our airplane is destroyed and will probably never fly again.  Flat Stanley was part of that adventure.  I have attached a photo of Flat Stanley in front of our airplane before we departed from Chub Cay.

If Flat Stanley would ever like to learn how to be a cowboy and ride Spanish Mustangs, please send him back to me.”

Sincerely,

Ms. Donna

 

“PS.  Flat Stanley now believes in God.”

Flat with Dr. Dan & Donna After their emergency Landing!

Below is The Flat Stanley Song, a little annoying but you won’t be able to get it out of your head.

(Pause music on top right)

What exciting adventures or ideas have you done with your Flat Stanley?