Rob Reiner's latest film, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in familiar roles, is called "The Bucket List." In the film, two actors play cancer patients who, while sharing a hospital room and staring at death, decide to make a list of all the things they want to do before they "kick the bucket." Having not actually seen the film, I can predict how the story unfolds, what they likely included on their list, and how it will end.Although the movie did not make me want to see it, DID make me want to start my OWN "bucket list," not that I'm planning on meeting the Grim Reaper anytime soon. Here's what I've come up with so far. They are all things I believe I have some control over (as opposed to saying, "I want to win the lottery," or "I want to end world suffering," or "I want to cure student apathy.")
- run a marathon (currently registered, haven't yet run, but moving closer to the goal--see yesterday's blog)
- Perform in a leading role in public theater (having done minor roles in the past as a member of chorus, looking for chance to actually have speaking part)
- patent something (lots of ideas, but paperwork and expense can be daunting)
- win a prestigious, national award (have come close with Texas Teacher of Year race and Lonestar Emmy nomination)
- Spend an entire summer in the Montana wilderness
- Take an Alaskan cruise
- Travel to Finland and research ancestry
- Go ghost hunting in a haunted, ancient, historical castle
- Skydive . . . . solo
- Ride in a hot-air balloon
- Snowboard a half-pipe
- write and publish a book
- learn to fly (an airplane or helicopter)
- Discover/prove a mathematical theorem
- Tour historical New England
- Brew beer and create savory recipes
- Hang Glide with the Eagles (birds, band, or football team)
- Write a song for popular radio
- Write a play/movie script and watch it from audience
- Do stand up comedy
- Be a guest on David Letterman's show
- Play "HORSE" with Larry Bird
- Play catch with Brett Favre
- Ride a motorcycle
- Learn to juggle
- Learn to play guitar (well)
- Learn to play piano (also well)
- Be in a part-time garage band and play a few gigs
- Own a large tractor with a bucket and backhoe
- Ride in a submarine
- Climb a famous peak
- Have rock-hard abs and pecs
- Visit all the Abraham Lincoln historical places
- Visit all the Theodore Roosevelt historical places
- Canoe down the Amazon
- Design and build my own home and dream workshop
- Have a fruit orchard
- Take a dirt-bike ride on a motocross track
- Fly in a fighter jet or race car
- Maintain a garden
- Learn Spanish and German well
- Have a giant salt-water aquarium
- Experience weightlessness (the vomit comet?)
- Scuba Dive a sunken ship
- write and draw a regular comic strip
- Travel to Europe, especially Greece, Italy, and Egypt
I'd better get busy. While I'm checking off my list, think about what YOU want to do?
8 comments:
to achieve only a small portion of those would certainly be noteworthy, exciting and entertaining! good luck!
A great list. If you get to do one-tenth of one percent of them you will have accomplished much. Especially getting to fly a race car!
Yes, flying in a race car, metaphorically of course (did that cover my typographical error sufficiently?)
Good grief. Glad you made a list.
Count me in for the dream home, fruit orchard, savory recipes, garden, New England and Alaska. I might consider Finland and Europe, but you'll have to do the rest without me.
Hang Glide with the Eagles...Really? Just Don Henley or the whole band? Maybe they could help you write a song or learn the guitar.
Thanks for reminding me why I married you!
isn't egypt in africa?? i'm gunna go tell wenzel.. oh my.
Happy Birthday!
Good grifeey!SO? u r mi dad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment