The Mustache Bandit

Sometimes it’s just about the little things: isn’t it?  Like a steaming cup of coffee on an early morning, or your child’s laughter, or the changing of the leaves come autumn… or maybe a totally rad fake-mustache-photo prank.  Ahhh.  The little things.

So, today was yearbook picture day at my highschool, and I just couldn’t do it.  Because my husband is a teacher as well, we have a drawer stuffed full of free Lifetouch photo packets that chronicle the last nine years of our adult existence.  Bad hair cuts, weight gain, weight loss, sensible teacher cardigans: it’s all there.  Walking into work today I was filled with doom as I thought about the next full packet of pictures (we’re talking 8×10’s) that awaited me this year.  And then… and then I got an idea. 

I scrounged up a huge, black, fake, handlebar mustache from the theatre teacher.  I politely cut in line in front of some surly teenagers.  I slipped on my sweet stache right after the photographer posed me but before she snapped the picture.  The look on her face may have been funnier than the final product.  “Don’t worry,” I said, “the yearbook advisor approved this.”  Lie.  

While I will have to wait a few weeks for my awesome packet of pictures, I did get my ID badge instantaniously.  It’s hysterical.  Am I immature?  Probably.  Will anyone think this is as funny as I do?  Probably not.  But, I think my mustache prank speaks to something deeper.  I want to create more joy in this life.  I want to chuckle more, trudge through responsibility less.  Of course, there is already much joy in my existance, but I have been making a grave mistake: I’ve been putting everything into two different spheres.  Family, cooking, Project Runway, Friday night date night – these things are “fun.”  Teaching, grad. school, bill paying – these things are “work.”  Never shall the two meet.  What a disheartening choice I’ve been making. 

I intend to make this the semster of joy.  I most likely won’t be wearing a fake mustache through most of it, but I will change my thinking and my approach.  Let’s take my weekly postings and work for CU grad. school.  I like the program, but I don’t always find joy in my weekly assignments and postings.  It can feel automatic and insincere to be told to respond to at least two other classmates: “Great idea, Jenny!  I totally understand your feelings about Dewey Decimal and the graphic novel conflict.”  Jenny, I don’t really care that much although I am sure you are a lovely person.   Rather, I will try to be more engaged, more joyous in my postings and interaction in this virtual classroom.  I won’t rush through the readings and think about what otherwise fun things I can do when I am finished.  This will be especially important once I start my field study.  There is an 80 hour internship requirement that I’ve been considering a chore – another thing to get done.  Instead, I will do my best to have fun with it and enjoy my placement.   Otherwise, I’m really just screwing myself out of goodness, aren’t I?   If jogging two miles feels like work, I will pay a few bucks to do some laps in the rec. center’s pool – fun!  

Thanks, super sweet stache.  Thanks. 

P.S. – Where will you find joy today?  Hint: you might have to make your own.

P.P.S – I do promise to post my school picture asap.

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