Bucket List

This weekend was so brutal that I felt fairly crushed under the weight of it. I can tell when depression is settling in for a visit when I stop feeling that I have anything to look forward to. So, when I was on the plane today, I decided to figure out what I still need to do with my life. I have to admit, I do feel better now.

Here is my Bucket List, which I hope is a work in progress:

  • Maintain my close relationship with my kids. Give them whatever support for their growth and endeavors I can, while being able to be true to myself and what I would like to do with the next stage of my life.
  • Be good to my husband and help us both continue to grow and develop in the ways we seek.
  • Get my PhD in Creative Writing. I want the body of work I will have at the end of it.
  • Go to Alaska and see glaciers and bears. Seriously. I need to see a bear. And hopefully survive it. Go camping in the wilderness there, spend some time.
  • Go white water rafting again
  • Go skiing again
  • Go snow-shoeing and cross country skiing in Minnesota, dontcha know
  • Run a marathon (starting with the half I am running on July 3)
  • Grow a really long, groovy, hippy braid down my back
  • Camp in the desert again without a tent, just under the stars
  • Go visit Old Faithful (if you were a reader of Jenorama, you know why this is funny)
  • Go to Paris, England, Italy, Greece. Be a traveler, not a tourist. No fucking tourist packages. I want a backpack, a camera, a notebook, a pen, and a pack of cigarettes. I'd like to visit Austria. I think I can survive without ever visiting Germany.
  • Learn how to throw pots.
  • Break out my paints and overcome my fear of them.
  • Spend more time with Jes, Elliot, Beth, Mary, Vanessa, and Brad, my St. Louis crew
  • See Ilona again, more often, my Ottawa crew
  • See Carol Ann again, more often, my Seattle crew (Fall 2010 conference FTW!)
  • See Brooks, Kim, Suz, Jeny, and Dara again, more often, my BYU crew
  • See Mike again, more often, my OU crew
  • See Robert, Jason, Steve, Todd, and other Kim again, (East Coast OU crew)
  • Hang out with the Yeagleys
  • Vacation with Kathy Howe every year, my Minnesota crew
  • Have a huge party and invite ALL OF YOU
  • Go back to Athens, Ohio for a visit
  • Go back to New Orleans
  • Go back to Savannah
  • Travel
  • Find meaningful employment. To some extent I have it, but I think I would like to return to teaching. Literature, creative writing.
  • Go ghost hunting again. 
  • Heal myself.
  • Learn to write songs.
  • Watch Erica continue to become herself.
  • Pay off my debt
  • Continue to learn and embrace financial simplicity.
  • Read more “real” books. [Overcome my fear of mind-numbing depression caused by reading them]
  • Read more Faulkner.
  • Do a mandala. [Overcome my fear of them]
  • Go snorkeling again
  • Pet a dolphin
  • Learn more about coyotes and the role they play in my totem
  • Get the Karl tattoo on my shoulder
  • Figure out how to help young women be stronger, kinder to themselves, and more loving to themselves
  • Hang out with my brother, nephews and niece more
  • Go horseback riding
  • Survive my parents’ old age with some dignity and grace.
  • Face my hardships with some degree or decorum, dignity, grace, kindness, and love
  • Get the HELL out of Kirksville, Missouri
  • quit smoking

Comments

  1. Oooh, you're coming to Seattle?! Of course, if I get a different job, I won't be here in the fall...but if you do and I am, come say hi!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent list. (just the act of putting it out there I find quite excellent. I have a fear of doing this. Makes it too real. I don't know. I'm a chicken shit, I guess.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so glad we made the list. You can do it all if you want to, it's a choice. I learned that early on. Of course many of my choices have been subdued in recent years, but I still choose the best things I can. You can do it!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You movin' north or west?

    Good list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am SO THERE for that party you are throwing!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. My Alaska dream destination is Lake Clark National Park. A national park with no trails, just wilderness.
    http://www.nps.gov/lacl/index.htm

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kathy beat me to it. Woo, that party will be FUN! You could throw it after you move to Ottawa. Hahahahahahaha...

    ReplyDelete
  8. And Tokyo -- come to Tokyo!

    Not so great to live here, but great place to visit.

    ReplyDelete

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