{ The Party is Over - Now Clean Up Your Mess }

I flew out of state this weekend to celebrate the birthdays of my fabulous niece and nephew (and while I really can wax on for ages about them, I will refrain). On the flight back I grabbed this week's issue of Time magazine. Cover to cover was about different aspects of what else...the economy. The cover article by Kurt Anderson, I think, precisely outlines how we got here. Like an intervention where the cold hard truth is meant to bring about a turning point, Anderson outlines our two decades of denial and excess. But most importantly, he talks about moving forward from this point.

Using my own analogy of a giant, wild, over the top house party that has come to an end, there is now a huge mess to clean up. For too many months we've been standing amid the mess fretting about...well, the mess. Meanwhile, there is a whole new set of house occupants - our youth -about ready to show up to take ownership. We need to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Yes, some of lovely, overpriced furniture is ruined, and the carpet is stained, the crystal is gone and the five car garage is (and should be) demolished. But the house is still standing. The next wave of occupants will not see the same opulence as before, but we must leave them solid walls, clean rooms and safe shelter. They will come to define their own decor, their own style - hopefully learning from our mistakes. Fear cannot be our motivator. In the sober light of day, doing what's best for the next occupants of this lovely house is our primary responsibility. So, don't wait for maid service - they've all been laid off - pick something up and start cleaning. Don't try to salvage the pretty decorations or what used to be, focus on the basics. And next time someone invites you for a 20 year shindig, just say no.