Teamwork works wonders

Free To Be You and Me was my favorite album growing up. I still find myself breaking into one of those catchy tunes such as “William Wants a Doll” or “It’s Alright to Cry.” Years ago when I met Alan Alda I told him “I could run as fast as the wind,” and he smiled, remembering the Atalanta story he voiced.

Today one of those stories stands out more than the others, especially when it comes to organizing and getting things done. That’s teamwork.  Carole Channing recited a witty poem about Housework, whose last line delivers the ultimate message:

Little boys, little girls, when you’re big husbands and wives, If you want all the days of your lives To seem sunny as summer weather, Make sure, when there’s housework to do, That you do it together!

Last Sunday, after another weekend of guests backed out of my parents’ driveway on Cape Cod (we’ve had 26 so far!), we stood waving, each of us letting out a tiny sigh. While we had had fun hosting and laughing and cooking and eating, there was work to be done. Beds to be stripped, sheets and towels to be washed, dishes to be cleaned, floors to be swept, etc. And even though we were a bit exhausted, we were energized by the camaraderie we found in the process of doing it together. And of course the music playing throughout the house helped put a little pep in our step.

Last night I spent three hours at my sister Jackie’s house putting everything away in he

Even though we were tired from our long days, the three of us had fun putting their puzzle, uh, their kitchen in order, because we did it together.