Dear Reader:

On May 17, 2014 Naval Admiral William H. McRaven (Ninth Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command) started his commencement speech at his alma mater (University of Texas) with this suggestion on how to change your perspective on life.

Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack — that’s Navy talk for bed.

It was a simple task — mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs, but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.

……………………….

For long periods of time following my initial diagnosis of breast cancer I found myself sleeping on the sofa in my Happy Room. It was like I felt I needed the companionship of the television for voices assuring me that everything was still “normal”….my diagnosis hadn’t changed any television programming or altered pre-planned schedules of favorite shows…my diagnosis wasn’t life-altering to the world…just to me and my nucleus of family and friends..

Little by little I made the transition …first moving into the guest bedroom and sleeping there…and finally making the big move back to my old bedroom. It felt like I was coming home again after a long absence…that I had given myself permission to be “normal” again.

Living by myself it would be quite easy to skip over that first task in the morning…making my bed…since days could go by with no one coming in the house and discovering my lapse of housekeeping.

But these days…it matters to me.

Admiral McRaven was right when he said… that if nothing else…having one’s bed made when you return to it after an especially hard day is a special gift to your self.

This habit is in the same category of keeping the kitchen table set at all times so an impromptu meal is ready to be shared with anyone coming through your door.

I learned this “trick” from my good friend and Berkeley Social Studies Co-hort Carol Poole. Every time I went to her house her dining room table was set so beautifully.

I remember asking her about it one day and she said it was her way of keeping southern hospitality alive and well. The “set” table with place settings lovingly arranged and fresh flowers, as the center piece,  showed guests that in her house the table was always set and ready for folks to sit down and share a meal and good camaraderie together.

I loved that image and  have strived to emulate her tradition in my home.

Around 8:30 Friday evening I went out to check on the garden and saw the most beautiful ‘portal to heaven’ in the skies. There was a slight sprinkle coming down and most of the sky had darkened ….but there was this one spot in the skies where a shimmering light was struggling to break through.

It made me feel like I had found the secret portal to the next world…and that maybe God was smiling down and wishing me a good night.

Tomorrow I will tell you something new about moonflowers that I had never considered but which makes them even more special to me….but right now…as I sign off…let me share with you a couple of the latest “developments” in the garden.

My Confederate Jasmine is suddenly going “wild”…pretty much covering the little picket fence and oh my goodness…it smells so good! You might remember that I wanted my garden to have all five senses within its gates and the scent of this flowering vine is like drinking a perfumed nectar of the mythological gods.

My morning glory vines have finally climbed the pine tree in the center of the garden and is now wrapping itself around the hanging chair…I can hardly wait to see the purple blooms against the lime green color the chair….there is always so much to look forward to (in any season) in a garden!

Mollie took the boys down town yesterday morning to play in the fountain….they look like they had a ball!

So until tomorrow…Remind me Lord to make my bed, keep my table ready for anyone to be fed, and follow your voice as each word is said.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Last night John and Mandy had the family over for the Farewell to Summer Bash….it went “swimmingly” well with lots of dancing going on! We even made “formal” introductions to the younger cousins so they would recognize each other at pre-school next week.

Everyone was there except Kaitlyn…she was on a combo wedding/family vacation this weekend…travel safely home today Kaitlyn- we missed you! ….God speed.