Been There, Done That

Upon reviewing my bucket list, I realized that there are things I would have put on the list, except I had already done them. Instead of leaving them off entirely and risking them floating into oblivion and suffering an utterly meaningless existence, I felt compelled to make them feel significant and stately, and so I have created a list of things that were bucket list-worthy, except they were too accomplished to be included. After jotting down the obvious experiences, I discovered this is much harder than you would think, and that I’m really hungry and might start gnawing on my desk if I don’t eat soon, and so that marks the end of this exercise. I’m sure it’s not comprehensive, but it’s something. And something is better than nothing, right?

1. Visit Italy, and stay in a Tuscan villa

2. Admire Michelangelo’s famous statue of David in person (exquisitely breathtaking)

3. Whitewater raft (the Ocoee)

4. Run a half marathon (St. Jude Half Marathon, 2008)

5. Graduate college with a 4.0.

6. Earn recognition as a Junior Fire Chief (I have the badge to prove it!)

7. Visit Ireland

8. Parasail

9. Mentor as a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program

10. Pass the Series 7 and Series 66

11. Quit my job

12. Do a back handspring

13. Purchase (and pay off) my own car

14. Feed a panda

15. See the Leaning Tower of Pisa

16. Watch Eric Clapton live in concert

17. Dip my feet in the Mediterranean Sea

18. Snorkel in Cancun

19. Wander the streets of Amsterdam

20. Eat the most delectable waffles in existence in Belgium

21. Enjoy the view from the top of the Sears Tower

22. Hug Jack Johnson

23. Water ski

24. Start a blog

My Bucket List

You all know about bucket lists, those dreamy compilations of travels, skills, desires, and accomplishments you hope to achieve before you meet your Maker. In fact, most of you have probably created your own, or at least daydreamed about its contents.  I have been compiling my list for a couple years now, and I don’t think it will ever be complete. I am constantly coming up with new additions, but here’s the most up-to-date version for your viewing pleasure, and maybe even to get a few ideas to include in your collection!

1. Buy an around-the-world plane ticket (and use it!)
2. Live in New Zealand (even if just for a brief amount of time)
3. Be on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization (or work for one, I’m flexible)
4. Learn to surf (preferably somewhere tropical, but I’m not picky)
5. Learn to ballroom dance properly
6. Become a freelance writer of sorts
7. Attend Oktoberfest in Munich
8. Visit Greece
9. Shower in a waterfall
10. Grow an herb garden
11. Spend a day at a Nazi concentration camp
12. Hike in the Grand Canyons
13. Visit all 50 of the United States
14. Earn a Masters degree
15. See the pyramids of Giza, Egypt
16. Go on a cruise
17. Take an extended road trip across the country
18. Take part in a missions trip
19. Visit every capital city in Europe
20. Attend South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX
21. Run a half marathon in another country
22. Volunteer abroad for a significant amount of time
23. Camp on the beach
24. Set foot on each of the seven continents (although, admittedly, Antarctica might be a bit difficult)
25. Climb a mountain (not of epic porportions – not trying to take on Everest here!)
26. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
27. Attend a game of the World Cup
28. Visit Canada
29. Start a profitable, location-independent business doing what I love
30. Marry the love of my life
31. Live in another country for  longer than a month
32. Visit Hawaii
33. Ride in a hot air balloon
34. Go sky driving
35. Zipline through the jungle
36. Watch a live rocket launch
37. View the Northern Lights (the Aurora Borealis)
38. Visit the Parthenon in Greece
39. Run along the Great Wall of China
40. Go to Machu Picchu, Peru
41. Spend time in Salzburg, Austria
42. Island hop in the Caribbean
43. Buy a home
44. Read the Bible from cover to cover
45. Have children
46. Have grandchildren (many, many years down the road)
47. Adopt a child (perhaps literally, otherwise through a sponsorship organization)
48. Go snow skiing in Colorado
49. Go snow shoeing
50. Learn how to play bridge
51. Become a better cook
52. Plant a flower garden
53. Watch every movie that has won an Academy Award for Best Picture
54. Adopt a dog from a shelter
55. Get a professional massage
56. Complete a PhD degree
57. Become a ten gallon blood donor
58. Write and publish a book
59. Go on an African safari
60. Ride an elephant
61. Stand astride the Prime Meridian
62. Go snowboarding
63. Go horseback riding on the beach
64. Learn to speak French fluently (or any language, really)
65. Climb up the Statue of Liberty
66. Scuba in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia
67. Save a life
68. Teach English in a foreign country
69. Go back to Disney World
70. Donate plasma
71. Stand in New York’s Times Square (and also visit the site of the fallen Twin Towers)
72. Swim in the Dead Sea
73. Get baptized in the Jordan River
74. Eat lobster in Maine
75. Go spelunking
76. Learn how to play the piano
77. Take an etymology class
78. Learn to play the fiddle
79. Go to Israel
80. Donate my hair to Locks of Love

And on and on and on. This only scratches the surface. What can I say, I have big dreams. I want to see the world and experience as much as I can in the days I am gifted.

P.S.  I’d love to hear some of the fun things included on your bucket list, feel free to share!