Mount Vernon: The Sequel

You will be glad to know, I'm sure, that today concludes our discussion of George Washington and his beloved Mount Vernon. I hope you have gained some helpful insights into our first president, such as that, although he penned 110 "Rules for Civility," they all contain misspellings.

Much as I enjoyed visiting Mount Vernon, however, I don't mind admitting that I am heartily sick of George Washington. And not just because I have been writing about him all week. Ever since our visit to his home, Mr. Washington has invaded our home. His wisdom, his principles (but fortunately not his chamber pot) are slowly threatening to replace our usual haphazard decision making. In short, life in our house has become centered on "What would George Washington do?"

Joe is intrigued by what Washington typically ate for breakfast (something called "hoe cakes" -- which, although made with cornmeal, sounds to me like it is made with something altogether different and inedible) and wants to replicate it. Having no cornmeal, we have settled for Aunt Jemima Whole Wheat Pancakes.

He strategizes what Washington might have done in this particular situation or that. For this, of course, he consults the "Rules for Civility." He liberally shares these with me at strategic points during the day, such as when I am spending vast amounts of time getting ready to go somewhere (Rule #15: "Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean, yet without shewing any great Concern for them").

He pores over Mr. Washington's daily schedule, looking for principles that he himself might follow in order to duplicate the great man's success. Washington, for instance, was said to rise and work for several hours before sunrise. Somehow I don't think this included hitting the snooze button repeatedly, which constitutes a large part of our early morning schedule.

He informs me that Mr. Washington's thought upon rising each day was "What good shall I do this day?" and before retiring at night was -- you guessed it -- "How can I change that hideous color in the front parlor without hurting Martha's feelings?" Whoops! That was what he thought at lunch, when he had to pass through that parlor to go to the dining room. At night, of course, his thought was "What good have I done this day?" My thought, throughout an entire day, is generally something more like "What day is today?"

Goodness only knows what Joe will be spurred to do when he finds out that recent excavations in Philadelphia have unearthed the residence George Washington used while president. I am sure that he will want to visit there, too. Perhaps, if I am very lucky, we might find that they have discovered a sequel to Washington's book: "Rules for Incivility."