My Bucket List

“There's no limit to how much you'll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go.”
                                                                                                                  ― Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss makes my head happy. Honestly he scratches an itch I never knew I had. Like when a truly talented singer hits that note just right? Or when my husband rubs my very sore shoulders in just the right spot. Or when a joke is made that is both clever and perfect. Or when a great invention comes out, like putting built in zippers on a bag of chips or Oreo cookies (why didn't I think of that?).  Dr. Seuss does that to my brain every time I read his books. As far as kids picture books are concerned, his are by far my favorite. The more difficult to read the better.  I need to purchase "Fox in Socks" because we have probably borrowed it from the library more times then I have fingers to count. I love the challenge!

But seriously, that quote up there? It makes me go "Ha!" because in just a few small words he has far out-witted and out-worded even my grandest attempts.

A while back I decided I needed a bucket list. A list of things I want to accomplish, places I want to go, people I want to meet and metaphorical mountains I intend to conquer before I die. I have been researching "bucket list" on google ever since then. And I will admit I am getting very frustrated with it. You see, I want a list, but so many regular bucket list items are things like: "complete a triathlon" or "learn an instrument" or "read all the classics." Now, all of these things are all well and good - but somehow as much as I would like to become a better person. That is not it.

So...what should my list look like? My wonderful husband has a friend, his wife has a bucket list of things she wants to do and she shows her husband 5 entries a year. He chooses one of those 5 and they complete one thing a year. I like that, I'll admit I wish had thought of it first. Last year this couple went on a tour of the US taking only Amtrack. Awesome, I like this person just hearing that story!

Of course, if I were to do something like that there would be one real problem. You see, I don't want to just show my husband a few at a time, though I can see how that would be fun. I want to be able to add his to my own and we can pick something to do together.

A few days ago I saw a bucket list entry, no idea who wrote it, that said "I want to be kissed under a waterfall." I like that. That scratches the itch too. Though for me, it might more be "I want to be kissed up at the top of a big tree." or "I want to be kissed on a ship in the ocean."

Perhaps I should have a sub-list that details all the locations I wish to be kissed?

In that case my husband will have to come a long. After all, any ol' kiss wont do. Can you imagine? "Excuse me sir, I have a bucket list you see, I wish to be kissed under a waterfall and you happen to be here and, from what I can see, you possess a sturdy pair of lips. Can I perhaps borrow them for one moment so I can mark this task as completed?"


No, that won't work. The husband will have to join me. That's good. I like him.


So where does one start in compiling this list? Is it a bad thing that I have waited until not quite 30 to start it? Isn't this something that is supposed to be started at the cusp of adulthood, so one can have "fall in love" right there at the top?


Perhaps I should have a list that details all the things that would have been on my bucket list had I started it at 16. But since I waited this long to start it, they have already been finished.

Well, I wouldn't say I am finished falling in love. I have just found the person already. I have fallen into, around and beside. I still have to fall upside-down and perhaps in-between. Love is such a complicated process. You are never done falling after all, at least I don't want to be.

Well, let us start with the things I know I will do:

1. Raise three daughters to be amazing woman.

Ok, that sounded rather stagnate. Not that I don't want to raise my daughters to be wonderful woman, it just seems rather obvious.

New rule. I have just decided I cannot write anything obvious on my list. This has to be all things no one would know just because they had a 3 minute conversation with me in line at Target. Let us try this again:

1. I want to write a "Ha" book.

What is a "Ha" book you ask? Oh goodness, weren't you listening? I said it up there somewhere, don't you remember? I tell my girls that part of obeying is listening and remembering. "I didn't hear you" or "I forgot" are not acceptable excuses for not following through. Of course, I have had entire conversations with my husband where apparently I have answered questions and responded to comments and then promptly forgotten them. (I do it with friends too at times, to my utmost embarrassment.) But in my defense, he does it to me too...I suppose we are all still learning to listen and remember. Oh goodness this list will never be finished if I can't stop writing commentary! Another good one from Dr. Seuss?

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.”

Of course coming from Dr. Seuss I will argue that this is not really fair. I really think it is rather a pot vs.kettle competition personally. I doubt any other writer has made up more words, with the exception of Shakespeare of course - though I would guess that the Dr. himself would argue that he needed every one of those words, and more. Which is why he had to create so many, to fill the empty spots.

Alright, so let us try this again.

Personal Bucket List

Get a tattoo at 30
Learn to drive stick shift
Learn how to give myself an actual sense of style and purchase good quality clothes to match that style
Write an "Ah" book. Or at least a book with "Ah" moments

Learn a Martial Art

Learn to knit
Learn to sew
Perform in Evita

Live somewhere for a year that has a real Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.
See the Northern Lights
Have tea in England
Have wine in France
Go to a zoo in Australia
Swim in the ocean in New Zealand
Use chopsticks in China
Go on a cruise to an exotic place
Visit a rainforest in S. America
Go on a mission trip to Africa
Go somewhere for a week where I don't know anyone and spend it entirely meeting new people.
Throw a surprise party
Be given a surprise party
Make a list of all the parties I want to have (a tea party, a waffle party, a soda  party, a wine party,                   a chocolate party, etc) and plan them all out.
Meet my sponsor child
Get at least 3 more sponsor kids and meet them
Finish college
Get a masters
Pay off my house
Pay off all student loans
Have $100,000.00 in the bank so I can do lots of secret acts of kindness
Start doing at least one secret act of kindness per month, with an eventual goal of one per week once                 my children are bigger.
Own, love and train a big dog
Go to a garden and walk everywhere barefoot
Create a garden paradise in my backyard
Grow enough veggies to not have to buy any for a year, can what I can to be used in winter
Make my own clothes
Wear a different hat everyday for a week
Buy more hats
Catch a firefly
Count the stars
See a play in New York
Sleep in a hammock
Live on a boat for a year
Take my kids to Disney world for a week
Take my kids to Europe
Take my kids to New Zealand
Take my kids camping
Go on a road trip across the US as a family for the summer
Eat ice cream in bed
Do nothing and but read and eat chocolate and drink tea for an entire day
Learn how to give a massage
learn how to be a personal trainer
Help someone achieve a healthy lifestyle and meet their weightless goals
Go on an Art Musium trip around the world
Learn to paint
Learn to appreicaite real Art
Find out how the Ship gets in the bottle
Send a message in a bottle
Find a bottle with a message
Go on an "antique store" vacation up the west coast where I have to spend $100 on something completely       useless.
Own an unusual pet
Gamble away $100 in Las Vegas
Go for a drive and don't come back for a week, no planning allowed
Get a junky classic sports car and fix it up myself
Go backpacking and catch fish for dinner

See alligators in the wild
Spend a day in the mountains alone with God
Learn to sculpt
Learn to grow orchids
Make my own candles
Live completely "unplugged" for a week
Raise my own chickens
Raise my own bee's
Learn to make beer
Grow a bonsai tree
Become a wine connoisseur
Become a beer connoisseur
Become organized
Get rid of junk
Learn to live very simple
Become a better listener
Sleep in a castle
Run in a field of flowers
Celebrate my 50th Wedding Anniversary surrounded by kids and grandkids
Write a letter to each of my children telling them what I want them to know about my life and the lessons I've   learned.

Oh goodness! I an certain there is more. And I will write it down as it comes to me, but for now the present is calling. The future can wait a bit longer.

“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”  -Sir Seuss