Before examining these items, I wanted to note one item that disturbed me about my perfect day: if I am being honest with myself, I don't have time set aside for God (whether formally at mass or even quietly at prayer) on my list (let alone near the top). This bothers me for a number of reasons, but the top two are that 1. this brings into question my overall faith and devotion to God 2. I have found myself most content on days when I have at least shared my day in some way with God, yet He doesn't get my automatic consideration for my perfect day. I put this paragraph at the head of my list to "own up" to this oversight despite my adding prayerful conversation to the top of my list.
Elements of my perfect day:
- A quiet, prayerful conversation with God (preferably in a setting of beauty, not in my car or in the bathroom).
- Waking up before anyone else in the house in time to see the sunrise.
- Cuddling time with my wife.
- "Cuddling time" with my wife (not to be confused with the above item) without any disruptions.
- A breakfast of scrambled eggs with melted cheddar cheese, slightly chewy bacon with crisp edges, buttered rye bread toast, and orange juice. If fruit is present, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple slices with a vanilla yogurt dip.
- Hugs from each of my children.
- Quiet time and space where I make productive progress on my writings.
- A seasonally appropriate outdoor activity with my family (badminton, tennis, volleyball, swimming tag, sledding, snowfort building, baseball, frisbee, hide-and-seek-tag, etc.)
- Time with my friends playing games (D&D, Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, spades, etc.).
- Time to make forward progress on a video game.
- Watching a great show with a great audience.
- A nature outing like hill-climbing, trail walking (hold the insects, please), canoe paddling, etc.
- Finishing some project that improves where or how we live.
- Fresh buttered popcorn.
- Lunch or dinner meals that include one or more of the following: batter-fried chicken (boneless or not), a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg, Indian butter chicken with naan bread, a medium to medium well-done steak (fillet), General Tzo's chicken and good fried rice (with BBQ pork), an Italian meatball sandwich, a Monte Cristo sandwich, a loaded baked potato, loaded smashed potatoes, waffle fries with honey mustard dipping sauce, chile cheese fries, Klavon's pizza with bacon and sausage, or La Fuente's arroz con pollo.
- Either the banana split (without the banana) or the hot fudge ice cream cake that I used to be able to get from The Parlour in Jackson.
- Watching the sunset.
- A small bonfire.
- Falling asleep to the sound of a comfortable, steady rain.
These are the items that come to mind at the moment. I'm certain that there are others.