Stanley

This was not on my list of things I anticipated my Christmas to include. Today was a big "long way from the bus-stop moment."

My brother, A's Uncle Scott bought her a fish for Christmas. He presented it to her about five minutes after she had unloaded her stocking, which included Thomas' friend, Stanley, a white steam engine. So when everyone asked her what she wanted to name her fish, she didn't hesitate to name it Stanley.

I have to include this side-note for my own record-keeping. Stanley, the engine, was actually a gift from a coworker at Carolinas Rehab named John. John is British and prior to a few Saturdays ago, I only knew him to be a very nice guy who helped me with a lot of my patients, and said, "ssshedule" when he passed out patients' daily therapy times. The last time we worked together, he was extremely helpful and kind - he asked lots of questions about A and what she was into, what she wanted for Christmas, etc. I told him of her Thomas obsession and John told me that his 15 year old son had also been a big Thomas fan as a younger kid (of course I assumed all Brits loved Thomas, so him telling me this somehow made me feel British myself). After our respective lunch breaks, John returned to the hospital after taking a quick trip to Wal-Mart. He gave me Stanley and said, "you put this in your daughter's stocking - my son wants an Ipod-touch, so savor this time with her." Little did he know that this gesture would evolve into something entirely different.

Stanley (the fish) came in a big bowl with orange rocks, but the conditions up my parents' mountain-top house (and in a crowded car) were less than safe to be shlepping a fish around. So my mom came up with the idea to put him (or her?) in an extra coffee pot with hopes that he wouldn't spill out on the bumpy, gravel, hardly scraped, mountain road. Thankfully, we made it down the mountain without any trouble, but towards the end of our journey, I realized that Stanley was a bit flustered.

Then I realized that he was looking at his reflection in the metal band that encircles the coffee pot, something beta fish don't like to see I'm told.

I'm happy to report that Stanley is back in Charlotte and in his bowl. If anyone wants to fish-sit during our next trip to the mountains, A would be appreciative. If anyone has any ideas of how I can get back at Uncle Scott, I would be appreciative.