You know, you do not get handed a Cancer diagnosis and not spend time thinking about your mortality. I would imagine the amount of time you spend would depend upon the type of Cancer you have. Although my Cancer is considered treatable, I still have spent a great deal of sleepless nights thinking about mortality.
This is what I realized: I do not have a bucket list. I have always construed myself too young to have one. You all know what a bucket list is...the term was made popular from a recent movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They were older men, with health concerns, who made a list of all the things they wanted to go before they died. I always thought there was time to figure out my bucket list after I had lived my life.
But, as this diagnosis has shown me, you never know what life has in store for you. So, it is time to develop my list. As I sit here and think about what I would put on my list, I can come up with a few things.
Wayne and I have joked with each other for the past few years, that we want to be campground hosts when we retire. How difficult can a campground host's life be?? Check-in campers, sell firewood, lock the gates at curfew time. Mix that with fishing whenever you want, campfires on a regular basis, fresh air, and starry nights....sounds good to us! So becoming a campground host is on my list.
Sturgis is on my list. I am a girl who likes a party and the biggest biker party sounds pretty good to me! Of course if I am honest, it is not just Sturgis Bike Rally that appeals to me. It is the landscape. So visiting the north during the first week of August is on my list.
I thought I had this one checked off my list..but then I had another child. I believe taking your children to Disneyland or Disney World while they still believe in magic is just one of the joys of parenthood. I had that pleasure with Jacob but now it is time to plan for Olivia.
Visiting New York City is something I have never done and want to do. And, I almost forgot; Seeing Bon Jovi in concert in New Jersey has always been a dream.
There are so many other things that I want to do before I die, but most of them are just things that I would normally see if I get to live for many years to come. Olivia in kindergarten, Jacob and Olivia graduating, the college years for both of them, seeing what careers they select, Jackie's graduation, her become a successful doctor, boyfriends, girlfriends, weddings, grand kids.
So, as I type this, I feel like my list is incomplete. Help me. What is on your bucket list? Inspire me. Help me fill in my list.
This is what I realized: I do not have a bucket list. I have always construed myself too young to have one. You all know what a bucket list is...the term was made popular from a recent movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They were older men, with health concerns, who made a list of all the things they wanted to go before they died. I always thought there was time to figure out my bucket list after I had lived my life.
But, as this diagnosis has shown me, you never know what life has in store for you. So, it is time to develop my list. As I sit here and think about what I would put on my list, I can come up with a few things.
Wayne and I have joked with each other for the past few years, that we want to be campground hosts when we retire. How difficult can a campground host's life be?? Check-in campers, sell firewood, lock the gates at curfew time. Mix that with fishing whenever you want, campfires on a regular basis, fresh air, and starry nights....sounds good to us! So becoming a campground host is on my list.
Sturgis is on my list. I am a girl who likes a party and the biggest biker party sounds pretty good to me! Of course if I am honest, it is not just Sturgis Bike Rally that appeals to me. It is the landscape. So visiting the north during the first week of August is on my list.
I thought I had this one checked off my list..but then I had another child. I believe taking your children to Disneyland or Disney World while they still believe in magic is just one of the joys of parenthood. I had that pleasure with Jacob but now it is time to plan for Olivia.
Visiting New York City is something I have never done and want to do. And, I almost forgot; Seeing Bon Jovi in concert in New Jersey has always been a dream.
There are so many other things that I want to do before I die, but most of them are just things that I would normally see if I get to live for many years to come. Olivia in kindergarten, Jacob and Olivia graduating, the college years for both of them, seeing what careers they select, Jackie's graduation, her become a successful doctor, boyfriends, girlfriends, weddings, grand kids.
So, as I type this, I feel like my list is incomplete. Help me. What is on your bucket list? Inspire me. Help me fill in my list.
I want to skydive, learn to swim so I can enjoy it, visit and experience all 50 states, visit the pyramids in Egypt, learn to ride a motorcycle(got that one done), just a few I can think of right now.
ReplyDeleteHey there! We share at least 1 bucket list item--Oregon trip is just a few years away!!! And, let me know when you're ready for NYC and Bon Jovi in Jersey--I'd love to be your guide--plus, we have free lodging! And, if you have a few extra days before or after Disney, we can crash my parents Florida place. Let me know as you make plans--I'd love to participate! If you want to join my bucket list adventures--I want to go traveling--the South Pacific--stay in one of those huts out over the water. Alaska--just want to see Shamu in his natural suuroundings. And, it's still on my list to foster. Mark says I can foster a dog. I want to foster children. We'll have to wait to see who wins that battle : ) But, most importantly, feel good and take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing that movie, I've thought about a bucket list myself. I would like to change the name to something like "Living life to the fullest list" because the bucket list sounds so serious for such a fun journey. I do want to travel with you to Stergis on my sports bike (once I learn how to ride), I've been in stergis traffic and it just seems so fun. Travel to each state and scrapbook each one, an African safari in Africa of course, travel to Paris, Australia, China, and Italy have my own natural children, go hunting (first learn to shoot a gun and without freaking out) and scuba diving just to name a few. Thanks for being so transparent and honest about your life.
ReplyDeleteNicole, we can learn to swim together. I use to know how but have developed an adult fear of it. It is one of my goals.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I will travel with you to Portland and beyond! I have so wanted to stay in one of those huts in the water! (After I learn to swim again!)
Melissa, after watching Oprah today, I have decided to put visiting every Federal Park on my list. And as scared as I am of the water, I can say I have been scuba diving and kinda liked it. I would do it again with you. But I am all for the trips to Africa, Paris and Italy. Oh okay and Australia!
Thanks friends!
From my cousin Wendy:
ReplyDeleteKids married Marlin fishing Grand Canyon Alaska Redwood & Sequoia National Forests. Washington DC visiting the Smithsonian Museums including the Holocaust Museum. Buy my dream home & farm. Key West. Mount Rushmore. Camping in the Great Smokey mountains.
It took me fifteen days, but I have managed to come up with something; take a hot air balloon ride and learn to play at least one Tori song on my piano. Both are pretty doable, just have been put off for some non-important reason.
ReplyDeleteRegina