Love me like a rock

I love a theme. Gifts I buy often have a theme - right down to the wrapping paper. As a result, I spend a lot of time developing lesson plans around a central idea. Recently, I've discovered the wonders of PowerPoint, so I log even more time trying to meld my theme into a slide show. I have yet to figure out how to get a song to play throughout the show, and I realize I am (as usual) late to the game when it comes to technology, but if anyone out there knows how to make that happen, I'd sure enjoy a comment about it.

The theme for today's post, of course, is love. Ahh, love. I think the best love songs are about break-ups or heartbreak of some sort. In fact, I would say the best songs of any category are about heartbreak or any guttoral emotion conveyed through voice-cracking, soul-bareing singing. One of the truly greats is "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. There is a moment in this song that makes me cry every time I hear it. Actual tears streaming. I won't tell you which part, but please, do, find this song and listen for the life-changing lyric.

The best movies about love are the ones that remind us of a time when we first discovered the meaning of the word, so they're different for everyone. I imagine there are folks who get misty-eyed by Night of the Living Dead. For me, the first movie that taught me about love was Funny Girl. A few years later, I found John Cusack and Ione Skye and everyone my age who loves Say Anything loves it because it came into their lives at the right time. For example, if the first time I saw this movie was yesterday rather than when I was 14, watching John Cusack balance a boombox over his head in the rain probably wouldn't move me the way that it does, still.

When it comes to novels, I would recommend The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. This is a beautiful book about love - love of country and spouse. Love of tradition and change. And overall, love between a father and son. It's a slow start, but be patient. It's very much worth your time.

Yesterday I played two stories for my students - both of them about love, both featuring anthropromorphized animals. The first, by David Sedaris, is about a chipmunk and a squirrel and the nebulous meaning of jazz. As expected, it's funny, but not for funny's sake. The last line is one of the best I've read when it comes to love and truth and what it means to be human - even if you're a chipmunk.

The second story is called "The Duck" by Ben Lorry. His collection Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day is one of new favorites. In this piece, a duck falls in love with a rock. All of his duck friends laugh at him - except for one girl duck, who follows him into the woods and watches as he woos the rock. He tells the girl duck that this is not just a rock. It's something special, and the girl duck believes him. They embark on a mission to discover the rock's true purpose and indeed, when hurled off the side of a cliff, the rock becomes something quite remarkable.

It got me thinking: What if we are all rocks - until we are loved? Until someone takes the time to see something beyond the lumpy exterior. This someone might be you. Love isn't limited to romance. Love is a kind word. A grocery cart returned for someone with small children and a trunk full of popsicles. Love is seeing the possibility in people. So for this Valentine's Day, I offer you the same challenge I offered to my students: Be on the look out for rocks. Love them like a mother loves a child.

And now a song - originally by Paul Simon - but rendered nicely here by the O'Jays. Happy Valentine's Day.

Speaking of books...

Here is an amazing short film called The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. It has been nominated for an Academy Award, and besides its breath-taking imagery, the message beautifully coincides with my last post. Please enjoy.