"Good Morning Sunshine!", our housekeeper

used to wake me up each morning by saying this to me.

She said I was her best helper. I like to help people and

when I was little,  we used to have a housekeeper named

Gert.  The thing about Gert, is that no matter how grumpy

my Mom was or anyone in the house, she had a way of

cheering us up!   I believe that people come in our lives

for a reason and maybe a season, well, Gert came in my

young life as a child to teach me the power of optimism! 

Gert didn't have much in her life but she was always smiling!!

She taught me how to clean windows with a newspaper and make

the window shine just like a diamond!  She taught me to have

pride in my surroundings and how to keep them neat and

sparkling clean. She always came very early in the morning

to clean around six a. m, but I did not mind. 

My job was to wash windows and I really like washing windows

very much! Gert used to make up a game where she would

shine a prism of colors by the window and tell me to catch the

colors. There was so much of a child-like curiosity in her that

it was contagious!! I only looked up at her with admiration

and she felt like part of the family to all of us!!

She always had a smile on her face and she never once

complained. My Mom would make her breakfast and

they would talk sometimes. I think my Mom liked her too.

My Mom liked most people but she had a soft spot for

Gert because she could depend on her always. And Gert

was loyal and trustworthy. 

Sometimes, even today, when I look at my clock, and it

is 6 a.m. , I remember those early days, and

I close my eyes and can hear

"Good Morning, Sunshine!"

That makes me smile....