I have always believed in paying attention to small but perfect moments. This is not only satisfying and delightful but a healing balm in difficult times of all description: illness, loss, failures, disappointments. All the wrong turns in life soften when a perfect moment is noticed. No matter the personal malady, a perfect moment brings us back to center, grounds us, allows us to feel at home and safe in our changing and often scary world.

For What It's Worth, I offer a few personal observations about the Syria deal. If you kind of relax, you know half close your eyes, and just listen to the Senate hearings, the speakers begin to morph into used car salesmen wearing cheap suits: low balling, then high balling, leaving out details, and asking ”How can I earn your business today?”

Once upon a time, we lived in Florida in a beautiful gated neighborhood. We often took a brisk walk in the neighborhood before daylight. On a Tuesday, Michael was walking alone. A man followed Michael in his car. He asked Michael for ID. He was quite agitated. From his position in the car it seemed as if he had a gun. Michael said, "I live here. My house is just around the corner." The car followed along, speeding up, braking and then driving up on the sidewalk - as if he might run him down.