So I worked in restaurants for years. Whether behind the bar or out on the floor, occasionally you would
hear the phrase "I am totally in the weeds!" One would use this term when you get slammed, triple sat, feel like you cannot see your way out of being so freakin’ busy. Generally – when this happened, you would pray that you had a good manager with you who could pull you out, bus some tables, wash some glassware, be your all around helper. For me her name is Luna, she is at Barbette.
Well folks, I am officially in the weeds. Work is nutsy, my partner and I just closed on our new home, and will be moving over the next few days. All super things, all blessings, all at one time.
So – where is God in all of this? Today God showed up in my sister. She is just back from Virgina, just graduated, and showed up with her Grandma’s truck today. We hauled, sweat, laughed, talked about love and embarrassing moments. She introduced me to a slam poet, Taylor Mali, a man who my mom would have loved. I am a fan. Listening to him, to his rhythm, I heard a prophet or perhaps the Spirit, crying out for justice. Please go and listen to him on iTunes or wherever you can get it. The written words are great, but reading them again to paste for you here, well it just lacks.
What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don’t work out, you can always go to law schoolBy Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.comHe says the problem with teachers is, "What’s a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite company.
"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"And I wish he hadn’t done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.You want to know what I make?
I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won’t I let you get a drink of water?
Because you’re not thirsty, you’re bored, that’s why.I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?
Amen.
The Sweet Bi and Bi 