Essentials

I am up in Winston-Salem visiting with family and friends and also doing some business. Always interesting and edifying and pleasant.

While I have a few moments, I thought I would rip off some quick thoughts on things I consider essential in my life.

I am, admittedly, stealing a bit of a march on the Sunday New York Times which often asks all sorts of celebrities (whether we know who they are or not) what they consider ‘Essential’ at this juncture of their lives.

Do not worry, dear reader. I will not tell you that having a Mont Blanc PooPooDeeDo fountain pen is one of my essentials. Or my second home in the Hamptons.

Nor, will I tell you that I cannot travel without my cashmere hand warmers or Gucci ankle boots.

I am a grubby peasant and my needs are much more modest-but, they sure count with me!

• Good Family and Good Friends. Indispensable.

• Good books and newspapers.

• Quiet, sometimes more than just a little.

• A good, cold drink of some sort of alcohol at the end of the day. Maybe even three. Good Vodka comes to mind.

• A cold and very dark room to sleep in, Temperature at 68 degrees please.

• Good wine, good food.

• Sports, Contests, Games, Competitions, especially of the Tar Heel variety

• Substantive Busy Work…If you think about it, you’ll figure it out.

• Travel…the older I get, I so wish I had done more…got a few more arrows in my quiver…a jazz festival in Havana, a trip to Ireland and a few more that are ‘out there’, taking hazy shape.

• Cheetos. They are wonderfully indispensable and too, horribly verboten-addictive but they beat the Hell out of all the rest.

• Legal pads and pens…you never can tell when a thought or idea will bloom between your ears.

• Good manners and Good taste…never go out of style and they are always welcomed.

• Thinking and Learning…it amazes me how many people don’t or don’t really…There’s my Baker’s Dozen…

What are yours?

My very best to one and all,

Vernon