10 days from now i will be riding through countryside, bags packed and heading towards the runway, nearly sky high. after 2 months, on a beautiful day in rishikesh (you actually couldn’t ask for more sublime weather in december) for no reason in particular (ok there is one reason in particular, but not something words can express on this page) i am sooooo ready to go home. here are some mentionables:
1. toilet paper. while adjusting didn’t require much, i will admit there are times the you just wish you had some seventh generation.
2. shower heads. after two weeks it’s easy to romanticize the bucket. after two months you’re just damn dirty.
3. washing machines. yes, yes all that i’ve mentioned involves hygiene. i said i was dirty.
4. sidewalks. i miss wearing my ipod and ignoring others behind my glasses. here i would probably not make it through my first stroll if i tuned out (or in) for more then a moment.
5. privacy. for good and for bad there is no such thing as self serve (in any context) in india. no such thing.
6. comfortable pillows. and lots of them.
7. seasonal changes. autumn leaves (somehow i missed them), winter chill, dancing sugerplums.
8. manners regarding bodily functions. yeah.
9. thai, mexican, vegan, italian, korean, greek, israeli, and farmers market dinners. and fake ribs.
10. trash cans. here the sanitation system involves throwing things into the street. the only other option involves carrying rotting garbage on your person at all times (because the only other place to put it is into a rotting pile on the street).
11. winter hibernation. under the covers.
12. chocolate croissants first thing in the morning. and chai from my chai pot. in my kitchen listening to the bbc.
13. hugs and kisses during little lotuses.
14. home and far away.
15. the corner of court and kane at 4 in the morning. (and other particular undisclosed locations).
Grandma said,
December 22, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Lauren Dear,
We will be very glad to see you, even if you are dirty.