Too Good

This morning I met Jenika for breakfast. We’d been craving a good masala dosa, and I knew just where to get one…

There’s this little vegetarian restaurant right by the bus stand, and, one morning a few weeks ago, I popped in there to cure another masala dosa craving. (Yes, it does happen quite a bit.) I chose this particular restaurant because it was the only one serving masala dosa that morning. After hearing several “illa”s (or, simply, “no”) to my requests for masala dosa, I was just about to go home disappointed (and still hungry) when I passed by this place.

Normally, I wouldn’t have given it a second glance, simply because I’d be afraid of what I might see. But my craving was intense, so after confirming that they had what I wanted, I went inside.

The restaurant was dingy and dirty. The tables were greasy, the walls were grimy, and the floors were just plain gross. The staff spoke absolutely zero English, but luckily I can say masala dosa in Malayalam. The other patrons stopped eating their own masala dosas to watch this strange madama who obviously didn’t belong there.

But when that masala dosa came, I knew I was right where I belonged. That was one of the best masala dosas I have ever eaten, and, after paying my 11 rupees for it (that’s not even a quarter, by the way), I vowed I’d see myself back there before going home.

And this morning, I did. I met Jenika at the bus stand, and, as we walked to the restaurant, I told her that I hoped she wasn’t expecting a five-star restaurant. She said she simply wanted a good masala dosa, and I knew this was the right place.

As we savored our breakfasts, we got to talking about standards. “I would never have even dreamt of eating in a nasty place like this in the U.S.,” I said. “I know,” she replied, with her mouth full, “but this is really good.” I nodded in agreement as I stuffed a big bit of it into my mouth, completely oblivious to the grease, grime, and grossness of my surroundings.

My standards really have changed, and I think this is one of the greatest blessings I have received this year because what it really means is that I will never again be too good for anything. I used to be too good for certain things. A year ago, I would certainly have been too good for this particular vegetarian restaurant. And in that too-goodness, I would have really missed out. From now on, I will appreciate the nice and clean so much more than I ever have; but I will also be grateful for the dirty and disgusting. I was raised to believe that I’m a good person, but, from now on, I will be good without ever being too good for anything.

And I will enjoy the best masala dosas for years to come…