HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CLEAN YOUR DESK

For several weeks now, in the intense heat and humidityof this L.A. summer, I've been going through boxes and boxes of books, papers, notebooks, and other forms of print materials. All of this is so that I can organize them into some sort of coherent order and get cracking on my dissertation proposal.

Meanwhile, here is a serendipitous find I must share with you. I don't know who the author was. I wish it had been me.

DUSTING

"A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture." (There's plenty of love in my house, then! :-)

I can't tell you how many countless hours that I have spent CLEANING! I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect -- "in case someone came over." Then I realized one day that no one came over. They were all out living life and having fun!

Now, when people visit, I find no need to explain the "condition" of my home. They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away, living life and having fun [read: doing the things I'm passionate about]. If you haven't figure this out yet, please heed the following advice:

"Life is short. Enjoy it!

DUST IF YOU MUST, but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake a cake or plant a see, ponder the difference betwwen want and need?

DUST IF YOU MUST, but there's not much time--with rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, dominoes [read: solitaire, backgammon] to play, friends to cherish and life to lead.

DUST IF YOU MUST, but the world's out there--with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around again.

DUST IF YOU MUST, but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. And when you go -- and go you must -- you, yourself will make more dust!

Share this will all the wonderful women in your life!

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED.