March 19th, 2002 Flat Tucker (referred to as FT hereafter) arrived at 12221 E. Tanque Verde, Tucson, Arizona from Lee's Summit, Mo. He arrived first class, hand delivered mail, at 2 PM. When I opened the letter he was glad to stretch out as he was very stiff from being folded up in the envelope. He stretched out on the bed in the guest bedroom and I turned on a CD Easy Ridin and after one song FT was fast asleep.

After FT woke up from the nap I introduced him to June and the dogs, Precious and Rascal. June thought FT was cute and after one sniff the dogs lost all interest as he did not smell like something to eat. We then went to my dentist so I could get my teeth cleaned. It was such a nice day that I put the top down on my Mustang GT and we enjoyed the fresh air. Of course I had FT in a seat belt so he would not blow away.

After we got home we walked the dogs around the block. After supper FT was tired so he laid down and I read to him from the novel, Flight Of Eagles, by Jack Higgins. FT liked the part about the teddy bear mascot that flew in the fighter plane with hero of the story. Of course after a few pages FT was sound asleep.

March 20th I got up at 7 AM and FT helped me feed the dogs.

Then FT watched me fix breakfast, he stayed away from the stove as it was to dangerous for him. After breakfast FT helped me work on replacing interior doors. We replaced door number 13 of 20. This required using a router to cut hinge recesses, a circular saw to trim the door, and a drill to cut door knob holes. We then painted it with two coats of paint and FT did good, he did not get any paint on his hands. The next thing was to hang the door and it worked great. After this hard work we then walked the dogs and had a early supper and FT went to bed. He was asleep after I read only a couple of pages to him. I am retired after 35 years working for IBM so I have time to work at home and entertain FT.

March 21st was another day of feeding the dogs, fixing breakfast and working on door 14. This was a closet bi-fold door for the hall linen closet. FT was able to help more as the only power tools required was the drill to mount door handle and bracket. We got it painted and after it dried we put it up and looks great. After a short nap FT and I walked Precious and Rascal and FT was surprised when they saw a rabbit and we took off running after it with the dogs barking. After supper we watched a little TV and until FT was ready for bed.

He stayed awake for three pages of the novel and was then sound asleep.

March 22nd was a Friday and again it was feed the dogs, eat breakfast and then do another closet door. After walking the dogs we ate pizza and watched TV for a while and then I got on the PC and FT sat and watched while I did my E-mail.

FT was ready for bed so I read to him and soon he was asleep.

March 23rd was a Saturday and we feed the dogs, ate breakfast, and then went to Home Depot in my truck to pick up more doors. We unloaded the truck and watched the Busch auto race on TV. Car number 60, driven by Greg Biffle, had a Flat Stanley taped to the dash for good luck. He did finish 4th in the race so I guess it did help. FT said he normally does not watch racing on TV. He does like to watch TJ (Tucker James) play race cars on the PC or TV. In the afternoon we walked the dogs. We saw a dead rattle snake in our front yard as the dogs pulled us over to it. It was only about a foot long, had one rattle, and looked like it was run over by a car. We ate supper and then watched TV until FT was sleepy. He laid down on the bed and was asleep before I even got my book to read. I hoped he would not dream about snakes.

March 24th, Sunday. Feed the dogs, fix breakfast, read the Sunday paper, and then we checked E-mail and watched the Winston Cup race on TV. Kurt Busch won his first race that day. After the race was over we walked the dogs, as Precious was barking at me because I was late Flat Tucker's Vacation In Arizona getting around to the walk. We walked up a dry wash and into the desert for about a mile.

The dogs loved this as they had never been there before. We found a 1998 Arizona Diamondback's Circle K baseball laying in the sand of the dry wash. A dry wash is a stream that has water when it rains. After the walk we ate supper and watched TV for a while until FT went to sleep. I carried him to bed and he never woke up.

March 25th was a Monday so after feeding the dogs and eating breakfast we worked on another closet door. This was for the guest room that FT was sleeping in. We walked the dogs and were luck enough to see 2 rabbits. After supper we watched TV, checked the E-mail, and FT was ready for bed. I read several pages and he stayed awake longer as the teddy bear was mentioned again.

March 26th was same old stuff, feed the dogs, eat breakfast, and work on another closet door. We then walked the dogs, ate supper, watched TV and FT went to sleep on the couch. I carried him to bed.

March 27th we feed the dogs and then went to Jerry Bobs for breakfast as I had to take our van to the Ford dealer to get a door molding replaced. FT liked the change of pace and I have a picture of him in the back seat. We waited at the dealer until they were done and then went home. No doors today so we played with the dogs, walked them, and the ate supper. Checked my E-mail and then read to FT until he was asleep.

March 28th was another day of feed the dogs, eat breakfast, and replace another closet door. We then went to Costco to shop and get the van filled with gas. After walking the dogs we ate supper and watched a little TV until FT was ready for bed. I read a few pages until he was asleep. I must be a boring reader or he doesn't like my novel. Of course I do not have any children books.

March 29th was another day of feeding the dogs and eating breakfast. June went with us to Wal-Mart to shop. No doors today! After walking the dogs we ate supper and watched TV for a while and then to bed.

FT stayed awake for almost a whole chapter of my book.

March 30th we got up early, feed the dogs and then June, FT, and I got in the van and headed to Douglas Arizona which is 120 miles south east of Tucson. This is where June's son Tim and his family live while he is going to Cochise College to get a FAA aircraft maintenance license. We stopped in Benson Az at Burger King and had a small breakfast. When we arrived at Tim's we all the went to the high school so the 3 year old twins, Kevin and Kyle, could go on a Easter egg hunt. FT stayed on the bench with June and Tim's 1 year old son Casey. Tim took Kyle, I took Kevin, and Holly took pictures of us.

They got a lot of candy, talked to the Easter bunny, and really loved running around the track at the school. We the went to McDonalds for breakfast again. We spent a few hours at Tim and Holly's playing with the grand kids and then back to Tucson. FT slept on the way home and we even stopped at a sandwich shop and got food to go. It was a long hard day for FT with all the granddads playing so after we ate supper he went to bed.

March 31st after feeding the dogs and us , I packed FT up for his return to Missouri. I packed him and pictures in a big envelope for the return so he could stretch out. I hope he had a great visit. I know I enjoyed it and look forward to Tucker James visiting in the future. I will be in Missouri in May so I will see FT and TJ then.

Love,

Grampa Darrel