So Let the Sun Shine In!

I awoke this morning to the birds tweeting, sun shining and my cat, Boo, meowing to come in after spending a nite out cruising the 'hood.  As I walked from my bedroom on my way to letting him in I noticed the sun trying to shine into my home thru the dirtiest windows I had ever seen...yep, they belonged to me.  So, without missing a beat I knew what my daily chore was going to be....

As much as I hate to admit it, I've washed my windows maybe once since I moved in....and I am celebrating my 9th year on August 1.  So out came the big Tupperware container (which doubles as a bucket, because the bucket I do own is full of 'stuff' in my garage), the obligatory rags (old Italian term for a cloth that has used up any other purpose) and some type of cleaning agent I could use to blast thru 9 years worth of wind, rain, snow.  My mother (who's hobby was cleaning and had windows that glistened any time of day or night, regardless of the weather) would have been horrified to see how I let mine go.  So, taking a cue from her, I decided to use a drop of Dawn dish washing liquid in the water, just to see if it really cuts grease and grime.  After all, I've used it to wash my hair (another 'blog' for another day!) and the commercials show how gentle it is on the ducks who get stuck in oil.....

And as I washed my windows I remember a song that my Dad taught me when I was 5 years old.  Daddy was a terrific musician and growing up there was always music playing in some way shape or form.  One nite there was a family gathering at my Aunt Rose's house.  She was Daddy's oldest sister and he adored her.  When it came time for entertainment, Daddy sat down at the keyboards and began to play the new song he taught me.....wanting me to sing.....I know you won't believe this, but I didn't want to, I was too shy.  However, Daddy always knew how to get me to do something and that had to do with paying me.  He offered me a whole nickel to sing.....and so I sang:  So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin....smilers never lose and frowners never win....so let the sun shine in, face it with a grin....open up your heart and let the sun shine in!.

I remember that nite like it was yesterday, not 50+ years ago....and as I remembered the words to that song I realized that lately I have been opening my heart and allowing the sun to shine in and although the sun does come in thru dirty windows, it really does pour in thru the clean ones.

And now, you may ask, what did I learn from this?  Well, Dawn is dynamite on windows; the sun is always in the sky even if clouds block it and to continue to remember that smilers never lose and frowners never win!

Mom would be very proud of the lessons I learned from this simple chore....