The Writers' Circle

In this house we say three things everyday, they are listed in exactly the order we say them. "Good Morning", Got Coffee? and Love you everyday! All of our family members and friends know this as the "house rule". It is even posted on the board in our kitchen for all to see. In big, bold black letters. It never gets erased or forgotten. In our house it is the one sacred rule we never break because we know better and well, it's very important to us. Over the years people have gotten stuck in such hectic lifestyles (us included) that they have forgotten the most basic, daily necessities. When I retired four years ago from my hundred-hour work week (I wish I was making that part up) I started realizing how very little I ever said those three things to the people who were supposed to mean the most to me. I wrote the words on the kitchen board where they have remained to this day.

 I started using them, everyday. My son was still living at home so I started with him. "Good Morning"! He loved it and he "got" it and his coffee. Before he left for work in the mornings Mom also started saying-Love you everyday. No more I love you or as I had for years, love ya. Nope-three words.love you everyday! Because I did, I do-love him everyday! When I moved to Oklahoma, my sister saw the board and added the words "got coffee?" Brilliant! Love her everyday! My nephew said he thinks it's great-his favorite.Good Morning! My brother-in-law's favorite, love you everyday!

 Everyone who has seen the house rule in action is amazed and has instituted all or some of it in their homes. They tell us it makes a huge difference. They are not telling us anything we don't already know. It works for us. We celebrate the fact that no matter how much we don't have, there is so much more we do have.good mornings, coffee and love. Everyday!

In this house we say, "Good Morning"! It has become a tradition of sorts. Nothing makes a day start brighter or get better quicker than those two words. We're not morning people, per se, not by a long shot. As a matter of fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Chaos reigns at our house and I'll give you an example: the other morning I was ripped from my sleep by the baby screaming in the kitchen. I jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen. There he sat in his stroller, where his older brother is supposed to be watching him. Only problem is big brother isn't around. So I calm the baby down, "Good Morning, Sunshine" I say sweetly. He smiles back, very glad to see me.

 I holler for his Mom, and find her in the shower. I pop my head in the bathroom door, "Good Morning" and "who's supposed to watching the baby?" She says "Good Morning" back (days getting better already) and big brother was watching the baby. Well he isn't around. So I go in search of Dad. He is taking out the trash. "Good Morning" to each other, and I ask where is big brother? Now we're searching for him. He is located on Dad radar, in the front yard. Big mistake-it's off limits to him. Now the baby's crying again, big brother is in big trouble, Mom is yelling at big brother and Dad's yelling at Mom and I want to cry! I haven't even had my coffee yet or been to the bathroom!

 So I sneak out of the free for all now in progress to go to the restroom. I sit down just as the bathroom door opens. My nephew stuck his head in the door and smiled that beautiful smile of his, said, in a most angelic voice, "Good Morning, Aunt Nina!" Life doesn't get any better than that!

		Our house is not a morning house. My married sister and I share a house with get this, her husband, two children under the age of eight and three dogs (theirs) and a fish (mine) and Cuisin-Art. We chose to live this way as a benefit to myself, I have multiple sclerosis and they are in the process of buying a house, which at best can take, oh say, forever. My sister and I have a great relationship, thank God for small miracles! 

		We don't set an alarm, the baby wakes us all up starting at, oh I don't know, but it's early! Depending on which of us he chooses to start his day with the other sister gets to enjoy the company of our Cuisin-Art. So called because he is a member of our unique family even though he is a machine. The most popular phrase in our house in the morning is "Got Coffee'? 

		Why? Because we haven't figured out quite how our Cuisin-Art works yet! He has been part of the family for three years and counting. On any given day he will grind the water, spit the beans, and flood the floor with a brown, gravy trail that somebody is going to have to mop up! Can you say rock, paper, and scissors? The other day my sister actually forgot about putting the coffee in him! We had to drink hot water to wake up! Never mind setting the programmable timer, can you say dyslexic? 

		For years I lived out of state, my sister and I had our coffee by way of long distance. But we had coffee. Now we live together and between us we can't get Cuisin-Art to make one cup. Have you ever seen the book on this piece of machinery? Apparently neither have we! We wake up any number of ways, but when we have coffee the whole family knows it, come to think of it so do the neighbors!