Bucket List

A few weeks ago, I watched The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. I found the movie interesting, as it dealt with two terminally ill men who create a bucket list of things to do before they die. Both humorous and sad, the plot raised a question to my writer mind.

We all die. That’s a fact. Would I rather know when I would die or die with no warning?

I decided I’d rather know. Armed with the knowledge of a time frame, whether it be a few months as with The Bucket List characters, or a few years, I could spend every moment savoring my last moments before I met God. There are those that say live every day like it was your last, but that’s hard when a day job and life intrude. Having an approximate date would ensure that I’d complete everything on my list and then some.

* Travel and see all the beautiful things I’ve seen pictures of or read about.
* Visit family and friends and remember old times and create lasting memories. 
* Show and tell my kids every day how much I love them and help prepare them for their life ahead. 
* Volunteer and support my favorite charities. 
* Continue to touch people’s hearts with the stories I write.

Being a writer was on my bucket list long before I understood what one was. In fact, I’d never heard of the phrase until that movie. I realized I always had a list in my mind of things I wanted to do and wanted to try.  I even did a few, like learning a foreign language, and living in two foreign countries.

As a child, I was a girl scout, and when I had a daughter of my own, became a girl scout leader. I was fortunate enough to volunteer and doing good for our community. Each time I look into my children’s eyes, I know that I’ve done the best job I could in raising them. I got to be a cheerleader for a week, even if it was only for a catalog. I got to see a play on Broadway in New York and walk around Central Park.

Last year I saw the fireworks go off over Cinderella’s castle in Disney world. This summer I get to go to the Shore, despite having spent part of my childhood outside of Philadelphia. One day I hope to travel to Australia and see the fireworks go off over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve.

There are several things that would never make the bucket list—skydiving being at the top of it. Or take part in the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Or go into space if the opportunity arose. I like my feet planted on the ground.

So what’s on your bucket list? What’s not?

Go ahead. Dream big. Dream crazy. Dream the impossible. It may not be out of your reach.

Nothing is certain but death and taxes. But then again, that’s life.