The Most Perfect Things

I was reading Duchemin's blog again this morning and was struck by the simplicity and optimism of today's entry. More than the blog itself that impressed me was the responses he received from his readers. The thought of adding that "perfect thing" incited in all of those people some huge smiles and warmed cockles I'm sure. I'd like to add a few of my own "perfect things" here in the hopes that someday somewhere someone out there will smile. Take a few seconds, and come up with their own "perfect things" list. Three cheers for paying it forwards. Enjoy...

#1. That perfect cup of coffee. Dark blend, sweet cream on top. Preferably at a small table outside a cafe in Paris. Or on your couch first thing in the morning. Good coffee is timeless, takes you to that happy place with every sip.

#2. Dinner with friends and family. Spending quality time with people who know the "real you" while eating some really great food had to top the list.

#3. My 50 f/1.2L. My husband likes to borrow it often, and I always put on a smile and say "of course baby." But inside I cringe every time and as soon as he leaves I take a deep breath and wish we had 2.

#4. Hugs and kisses from my babies. Of course this is #1 on the list. It was just so obvious I forgot to add it until now. Is there anything sweeter?

#5. A blank page and a good pen. I bought a set of moleskin journals this weekend and have been pouring over them. There's nothing as cathartic as writing out the shit on your brain, only to watch the genius unfold. Hahaha.

#6. An open mind. Anyone with the ability to listen, to seek, to imagine, to pretend or to hope. Its purity in its simplist form.

7. Passion. Having something that you can come back to in a day, a week, year or years later and still feel that giddy childish excitement inside about. That's what we live for.

8. Estes Park, Colorado. I've traveled. A lot. And one place my family and I keep coming back to again and again is Estes Park, and more specifically Rocky Mountain National Park. The elk, the mountains, the vistas and altitude...there's a reason we chose this place to be married in. ;)

9. Christmas morning. The memories of waking everyone up to open presents. The contagious smile on everyones' faces. The good food, the warm fires...there's one day a year when you can feel like a kid again and all the calamities fade just that little bit extra.

10. The Oregon coast. Amazing fresh seafood, shooting on the beach at sunset, camping in the state parks. The views, the people, the memories. Absolute perfection.