The Greta Garbo film Ninotchka.
Basil Poledouris’ music for Conan the Barbarian.
The Victorinox “Deluxe Tinker” pocketknife.
A tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
A cold slice of watermelon on a hot summer day.
A hot cup of spiced cider on a cold winter day.
McDonald’s sausage muffin. Just the simple one. Sure, you could add to it: fried egg, American cheese, but in so doing you haven’t made it any better. Sausage patty, buttered English muffin. It’s breakfast perfection.
The number 12345679 is perfect.
What, you think it’s missing 8? Fine then, multiply it in!
I was tutoring a kid in grade-school math, and hit him with that. “Times it by five.” He positively goggled at the result. He thought I had tricked him somehow.
And, of course, there are “perfect numbers” and Mersenne Primes and the like.
Pachelbel’s “Canon.”
(ETA: Unless you’re the one playing the ground)
Quadrophenia album by the Who. I’ve heard the whole thing live 4 times too.
My late cat, Paris. Solid black with brilliant blue-green eyes. Super playful and affectionate, loved getting brushed and never missed the litter box. His “happy dance” involved lying on his back, with his paws tucked in, and rolling back and forth, all the while watching me to be sure I was paying attention. He even did his happy dance before his monthly chemo appointment.
I miss him every day.
Also, my SAT score.
1989 BMW e30 X-Drive. K2 Kevlar Pro Staff, 204 (or 207) cm with Look bindings. 1971 BMW e10, injected.
Going Unlimited. RSVP.
The last one, for sure.
https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-Techo-TS-3-Mini-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm/pd/576#index=1
I got addicted to these miniscule ones, then Zebra stopped exporting them to the States. But jetpens.com has them (and I buy a half-dozen at a time, because I keep losing them).
…
Not to mention the strawberry waffle a la mode at the Aunt Jemima Pancake House…
But Epcot at DizWorld still has The Grey Goose/Grand Marnier Slushie (at a beverage cart in “France”).
Oh. When I was a professional ASL/English (and very rarely Hebrew) interpreter, I went to a masseuse named Frieda. She was perfection, as far as being in the exact right profession.
The first spring morning that I can smell the Balm of Gilead from the balsam poplars.
The first spring morning I hear the white throated sparrow sing its song.
The first spring/summer day that I sit out on my deck with a book and feel the sun’s heat soak into my skin.
Looking into the eyes of my grandkids.
Oh I am jealous. That is a perfect Christmas.
It was so great.
This.
Nothing to compare in my life yet, except the very first second I looked into the eyes of my newborns moments after their birth. No one else and nothing else in the world mattered then but the two of us.
McDonald’s Egg McMuffin
Coca Cola
Curt Hennig.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
I’m sure the dark/thin/pieces/minis/pretzels/white/eggs/trees etc. are also marvelous, but really. They got it right the first time.
Heinz brand ketchup is the perfect ketchup; the reason you don’t see very many ketchups is that it cannot be practically improved on for the general public. Its mix of tastes are perfectly balanced.
The video game “FTL Faster than Light” is a perfect game.
A good croissant.
j
A long, hot shower after a few days camping in the woods without.
A single cold beer after nearly anything that equates to sustained exertion – a long run, a good hike, mowing the lawn on a hot day.