I don’t know what happened, but I stumbled out of a Super-Bowl-induced haze, probably brought on by one too many jalapeño poppers, and into school Monday morning and made these:
Yes, valentines. Taylor and Travis valentines to be specific. Students can grab whatever they like, fill them out, and sent them to one another through our little interclass mailbox to be delivered on Valentine’s Day:
My one stipulation is that the little speech bubble or heart on the front of the valentine has to be filled with a quote from a book they’ve read in my literature classes—the more out of context and bizarre the better. I’ll serve as a mailman on Wednesday, delivering up some silliness on Valentine’s Day.
The kids are eating it up:
I know what you’re thinking. But why?
Honestly, for the sheer absurdity of it.
Classically speaking, the Latin word absurdus indicates something that’s out of tune. And yet, joy and celebration and festivity can be found in the absurd. Just come over to my place, and I’ll show you how much of a rip-roaring good time kids can have parading around with an ill-tuned tin whistle, a ukulele with two strings, a set of dented cymbals, and a maraca—all while toting little brother around in a wagon with three wheels.
Whimsy spills out of the parts of life that are a bit flat, a bit offbeat, a bit akimbo. The clash of thrown-together things feels odd at first—like the first time seeing Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, Taylor & Travis, and quotes from Death of a Salesman all at once. But the initial shock of absurdity often gives way to laughter.
And what better reflects our humanity? Everything kept separate, siloed into proper categories that never touch? Or a pink, pop culture, football, and Arthur Miller frankenstein valentine? In my life, sometimes I’m tying a kid’s sneaker, frying chicken, and mixing waffle batter while listening to the Bill Evans Trio in my exercise gear and talking to Mindy about the liberal arts.
But maybe that’s just me.
Thrown-Together Shortbreads
You really cannot beat shortbread when you are in a pinch and need to throw together dessert. These have been dipped in ganache and topped with pecans, but you can easily skip that because the cookies are a delight on their own. Five ingredients and 20 minutes stand between you and cookie paradise. Here’s our go-to recipe from Ina Garten:
Ingredients
3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Make It:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined.
Sift in flour and salt. Mix until cookie dough is uniform.
Use a cookie scoop to portion dough out, then roll each portion into a stubby finger. Arrange fingers on a cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until edges just start to brown.
I so see you as a Teaching Pastor, Chad. You have such a dedication to the Lord and such a gift to teach; an incredible combination! As you know, I am sure, teachers are included in the five-fold ministries. Not all are called to be a senior pastor, evangelist, apostle, (believe me, I have witnessed firsthand someone struggling in a place they might not have been called to be OR just not the right timing) but they play a vital role in the teaching of the Gospel in many positions. I see your teaching style is such that incorporates the word and brings a creativity to your methods that have to keep the students challenged. Challenges, decision-making opportunities, etc., definitely help them prepare for their on-going education and life in general. I loved this assignment! So I'm going to "pull" one myself and add my quote: "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." (Taylor to Travis) Love P&P! Keep it up!