The Importance of Self-Indulgence

Today I learned of a client/friend losing his battle with cancer and it made me once again, sit back and reflect on my life (it’s been great! I can tell you that) and what the future holds out for me. Dealing with the sad news, I once again, embraced the value of self-indulgence. The good life is good and one should always take the time and resource to treat oneself, not every once and awhile, but regularly. My late Edwardian grandfather taught me the value of enjoyment in savoring what ever you did, even the little things. Drinking fine whiskey, smoking a great cigar, sampling smoked salmon, or having a table set properly and laden with all the things you enjoy and above all, all of this should be an experience, in and for itself; one does not hurry and expect to enjoy the same results if one is rushed – you should embrace the mediation, the introspection of the products themselves. That’s the joy…….. Oscar Hammerstein once penned the classic, “A Few of my Favorite things”……….. Well mine are in part:
 ~ Hot Dogs in lamb casing
 ~ Ice cold Martini (gin, of course) along with a American club sandwich (the chicken must be poached) 
~ A huge bowl of Bearnaise sauce to dip crusty bread in while watching the movie 'Charade"
 ~ Hearing the most important 4 words in the world “Your table is Ready” 
 ~ Sole Meuniere at Le Dome in Paris 
 ~ Glass of crusted port and a Ramon Allones Lonsdale cigar 
 ~ A 6 button double-breasted Blazer and polka dot blue bow tie from Turnbull and Asher 
~ Dinner in a Pullman booth at Wiltons’ (London) during Grouse season 
~ Paris – anytime (except summer) 
~ The music of Tom Jobim and Frank Sinatra (together and apart)
~ Soft scrambled eggs with heavy cream and scallions ( lots and lots of scallions) 
~ smoked salmon and Gravlox and buckets of marinated, creamed and smoked herring
~ Kippers - drowning in butter
 ~ Lunch at the Thermes Marins Spa café L’Hirondelle in Monaco (ensconced in nothing but your robe) overlooking the Mediterranean while drinking a vintage Graves wine and feasting on curried pheasant. You have not lived until you have done this.
 ~…………..and so much more…………………..