The List

For the benefit of my parents

I'm coming home in three weeks and change and every time I leave and then come back, my mom (and, to be fair, my father also) asks me what I've missed most (largely concerning food, around which my life generally revolves) so that she can provide it. Yeah, I know, it's the life. And my answer is usually, "Er...um...I like lasagna!" And that's all I can ever come up with on short notice. Suffice to say, most of my homecomings involve lasagna, as those of you who have ever come home with me can attest. But I digress...I've decided to compile a list of all those things that I have missed (edibles and otherwise) while being abroad. For my mother. For my father. For the fun of it. And because, I'm genuinely curious to see what shows up.

The List (in no particular order, with the exception of item number one):

1. People
2. Cell phone service: it makes me a little sick to admit it, but it's true
3. Lasagna
4. Black tea with cream and sugar
5. Coffee shops
6. Good well water
7. Ice cream!
8. Frisbees
9. Broccoli and cauliflower: steamed, please. With cheese.
10. Cheese!
11. Juice!
12. My shoes
13. Mexican tacos
14. Driving
15. The luxury of spontaneity
16. My dog
17. Laying in thick, green grass
18. Being outside at night
19. Cool weather
20. People pronouncing my name in English. And spelling it with an 'h.'
21. My bed
22. The SciFi, History and Discovery channels
23. Grilled anything (well, not quite...)
24. Sarcasm
25. Nerds
26. Hot water
27. Carpet
28. Whole wheat bread
29. Good Sandwiches
30. Milkshakes
31. Going barefoot
32. NPR
33. Rivers
34. Milk!
35. Peas. Not from a can.
36. My shampoo
37. Stars
38. Swing Dancing
39. Reliable internet
40. The clothes at home that aren't falling apart like the ones here
41. Seattle
42. Portland
43. Bookstores with selection
44. Fresh mushrooms!
45. Mystery pasta
46. Rosemary chicken
47. Gyros
48. Good oriental food
49. Serving myself
50. Decent speakers