10 Things I Love - A Meme

On Stefanie's blog, Stefanie Says, she had posted a great meme about "Things you love"—the trick is, that you get assigned a letter (Stefanie's was 'L'). I de-lurked, and screamed "Me, me, gimme a letter!" And benevolently, Stefanie threw a letter at me. Mine is 'T'— so, without further ado,

10 Things I Love, that Begin with the Letter 'T':

1. THEATRE.  As an audience member, there's nothing like the lights finally going down, the hush that comes over everyone, and another reality spreading before one's eyes. For a few hours, one can get involved in a story not one's own, and experience thoughts and emotions one might not have had that day otherwise. In movie theaters, a similar thing occurs, but somehow the experience is a bit blunted, because it is polished, finite, without the element of surprise and danger that is always inherent in a live performance.  As an actor, being able to live other lives, in a shared 'unreality' with the other actors and the audience is also very special—on nights when everything really comes together, a bit of magic is created, and it is that feeling that draws everyone back to the theatre time and again.

2. TRUE LOVE.  And by this I don't only mean The Princess Bride variety, although I do love that too. I think 'True Love' can range anywhere from the Tristan and Isolde and Romeo and Juliet kind of passionate amour to old couples who hold hands and can take each other for granted, to the wonder of puppies, babies, to the first roses in the spring, to the best friend's voice on the line, to the calling one's mom after a sad movie, to an old lady's surprised face when you hold a door open for her, to saving an ant from drowning in one's coffee cup. I'm a hopeless romantic, perhaps, but I think true love is something that one feels for mankind, womankind, nature, everything. Except when I'm driving. Then, stay out of my &^#$@& way :P

3. TANGERINES.  Tangerines come to the stores about a month before Christmas—so for me, they always speak of the expectation of Christmas, which is my favorite holiday (to answer your next question, yes, I believe in Santa). If you get the ones from Morocco, they're sweet and without seeds. I can eat about 10 at a sitting. This was problematic when I was a kid, because I was very allergic to all citrus fruit; I still am a bit allergic (I get a pink rash on my face that makes it look like the world map), but I wants me my tangerines!

4. TUPPERWARE.  Heh, as corny as that sounds, it's true; must be a remnant from my childhood—my mom had a big collection, and there was always just the right dish for leftovers, mixing bowls for making cookies, containers for lunch meats, jams, you name it. I loved to 'burp' the lids when I was little, and I still do.

5. TONY MORRISON BOOKS.  Truth be told, at the end of each Toni Morrison novel, my first reaction is, "HUH?"  But that is part of their fascination—they don't open up easily, and trying to find one's own answer to them is an interesting journey. Plus, her prose is rigorous and rich, the characters captivating. No moment reading Toni Morrison is a wasted moment.

6. TRAVEL.  New places, languages, cultures, people, foods, sights, sounds, art, nature, cities! So many fresh ideas, such a chance to breathe!

7. TOLKIEN.  I don't think this needs any clarification. Tolkien. *reverent silence*

8. TUDOR HISTORY.  There's a subject one could study all one's life and never get to the bottom of it! I had a great professor, Professor Horle, once for a Tudor History class, and he could throw amazing amounts of knowledge at you, but make it so interesting you felt like you were listening to him spin a yarn, and you never knew how much you were actually learning. Henry VII defeating Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field, marrying Elizabeth of York and thus ending the Wars of the Roses, and going on to resuscitate the English economy. Henry VII's unfortunate son, Prince Arthur, dying before he could become a king, his younger brother Harry becoming the epitome of all sleezy bastards as King Henry VIII, divorcing and beheading his six wives, and spending the treasury on frivolous wars and a life of luxury. His sickly son Edward becoming King for a few years, only to be followed by his sister Bloody Mary, who took a hard Catholic line and executed every dissenter in the kingdom until her death from ovarian cancer. The Tudor line receiving its crowning glory in Queen Elizabeth I, who, taking a country on the brink of bankruptcy and civil war, ushered in an era of peace and prosperity, which afforded the arts to flourish, bringing us Shakespeare, Marlowe, Ralegh—at her death England was arguably the richest and most powerful country in the world. *cough* I got a bit carried away there, which brings me to...

9. TATTLING.  That is, talking, prattling away on subjects near and dear. *blush*

10. TWILIGHT.  My favorite word in the English language, as well as my favorite time of day; "the magic hour"; "the purpling hour"; the twin-light, the half-light. Always makes me think of fairy wings.

Okay, so perhaps my list was a bit dorky—'T' was harder than I expected. Everyone else's turn. Holler and I'll throw a letter your way :)
 
Ta-Ta,
Anniina
 
P.S. I can't believe I left out Tim Gunn, Toys, and Two-for-one Sales!