These are a few of my favorite things

Yesterday, Dori Schatell, posted the five things she couldn't live without on Facebook and asked her friends to list theirs. That set me thinking. It didn't take too long actually. Within a minute, I could list the five things I couldn't live without.

Well, these do not include silly things like air, food, water, dialysis etc. Rather, these are things that I actually love and make life meaningful and enjoyable for me. So here is my list, in no particular order:

1. Darjeeling Tea

I have a cup of black Darjeeling tea every morning. This is usually the first thing I do in the morning after I wake up and get off dialysis. I put water to boil in my electric kettle, measure out about one and half tablespoons of Darjeeling tea and then brew the tea for 4 minutes. I add about 2 teaspoons of sugar and then sip the heavenly concoction sitting by my lawn slowly taking in the purity of the morning air. This really gives a serene start to my day.

2. Idlis

I have always been a huge lover of idlis. For nearly two years now, I have been going to a place called Poorna Tiffins, a 11 kilometer drive every week to have really good idlis. I love good idlis and I don't mind going any length to try good idlis. A taxi driver, once remarked what it was about idlis that made me hitch a ride in Chennai, one rainy morning in search of the famous Murugan Idli Shop which has really good idlis. I had no answer! Idlis are another example of how the best things in life are the simplest.

3. Swimming

I go for a swim every morning. Even in winter. Swimming is what keeps me going. It is what has helped me keep fit (and won me many compliments!). The best part about it is that it is good for the body! When you enjoy something that is good for you so much, what more can you ask for? My half hour swim every morning is the best part of my day. I really love the feeling of being totally inside cool water. Have you looked at the surface of the water from inside the water? Or seen the rays of the morning sun dance on the ripples on the water's surface? No? You should. These are the simple beauties of life that must be experienced.

4. My MacBook Pro

I love my Mac. It connects me to the rest of the world. It helps me keep track of my life. It helps me earn a living and have fun, all at the same time! I got hooked to the Mac about 9 years back (thanks a ton Obul!) and have never got over the obsession. I can never switch to another platform now. The ease of use, the great user interface and the exceptional development environment has no match anywhere else. I actually have a T-shirt that says, "Hello, I am a Mac" with an Apple logo!

5. Travel

I love to travel. I love exploring places I have never seen before. Every few months, I like to head off somewhere or the other and take a few days off from the mundane routine of daily life. Unfortunately, I am not able to travel as much as I would have liked to because of the restrictions that dialysis imposes on me. Dialysis centers are available only in major cities in India and these centers do not as yet offer nocturnal dialysis. I am waiting for the day when portable hemodialysis machines are introduced in India. I will be able to travel unfettered then.




Comments

If i were to list out my five things, i would find it rugged to list them. But, i guess two out of your 5 may match with mine "idlis n travel"!!!
Kamal D Shah said…
What are the other three Thrinath?!
I never tried to figure it out kamal!!I feel its real difficult for me to list!!!