5 Quick Things #145 ⛵️

Dadvice, one-ingredient dessert, the art of argument, & non-gory mysteries

Hey there,

I’ve been closely watching COVID numbers climb here in Texas, wondering what this means for our family these days and feeling more and more certain that a two-week summer is where it’s at this year. This is a state that prides itself on independence, which is why I agree with this statement. Let’s do this, friends.

In the meantime, we’re sketching out our plan to celebrate Kyle this Father’s Day weekend… it’s tricky to know whether the gift is to make him dinner, or to let him make dinner by way of grilling (a favorite activity). Regardless, if he enjoys good meat and good beer, I know he’ll be happy — such a cliché, but it’s true for him. He’s so easy to please.

A yacht sails along the shore of the country I miss most right now. #

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5 Quick Things ☕️

1. I wrote an essay based on someone else’s essay I shared in last week’s 5QT — is social media making us more fully human, more who we’re meant to be?

2. Christine wrote a gorgeous letter to her 2010 self: “Years from now, you’ll realize your size has zero to do with who you are, and you’ll make peace with your body the way it is.” 

3. It might sound academic or maybe a bit bougie, but I promise it’s not — this habit in our family is usually the favorite part of our kids’ days, even in the summer.

4. “Dad, how do I?” — a YouTube channel made by a dad, specifically for those without dads. Beautiful.

5. This weekend I think I’ll try to make this one-ingredient dessert recipe, especially since I have a kiddo who’s currently dairy-free (one ingredient? really?).

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Quotable 💬

“Dads are the most ordinary men turned into love by heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.”

― Pam Brown

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Time Machine ⏰

6 years ago, Brooke wrote about why we should stop saving our stickers. I loved this essay (still do!).

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Elsewhere 📍

Tsh Oxenreider @tsh

Is there a well-written detective/mystery novel/series where the main crime to solve isn't usually murder? (genuinely asking for writing research; this isn't rhetorical)

Responses to my tweet here include some great book recs if you’re looking for a mystery that’s not all about the murder. 👆

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Have a good weekend,

xo, Tsh

p.s. This Monday in Books & Crannies we’ll start our laid-back summer chat of Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — feel free to join in at any time! A few chapters in, and I’m hooked.