It was great to wake up in my own comfortable bed after my five-week tour of Italy, Malta and France. Finally, I thought, I can relax a bit after all that sightseeing (Did so much walking that I wore out one of my hiking shoes!). Ah, I thought, as I opened the curtains with a smile on my face, I am so looking forward to relaxing a day or two before getting back to work.

Funny how moods can change in an instant.

Had I stayed in bed with the curtains drawn, I would not have allowed that bright fall sunshine to illuminate every speck of dust that had landed on my furniture, the mirrors, the floors and everywhere in between while I was off enjoying myself on holiday. Did I not dust and clean like a madwoman before I left … just in case a white-gloved robber broke in while I was away?

Alas, dust does not take a vacation.  Whether you’re there or not, the dust will keep on piling up. There’s no escaping it! My house is no exception.

With dust revealing itself on every surface as I opened drapes and blinds throughout the house, I decided I would enjoy at least one cup of coffee and catch up on my email before embarking on the inevitable housecleaning. Imagine my surprise (karma?) when I opened this message, circulated to family and friends by my sister and addressed to “Ladies!”

Remember … a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.  A house becomes a home when you can write “I love you” on the furniture.

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect —  “in case someone came over.”  Finally, I realized one day that no one came over — they were all out living life and having fun!

Now, when people visit, I don’t have 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.

If you haven’t  figured this out yet, please heed this 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  cookies or a cake and lick the spoon? Or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there’s not much time … with beer to drink, rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, 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!

It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

Is there really something better than a clean house, I thought? Must have been the dust blocking my brain cells, for I suddenly had doubts. Just in case, I locked the doors, poured myself another coffee and decided to give myself the day off. Dust be damned!

… to be continued