Kick the Bucket

Brian and I were recently inspired by our friend Bo to create our own "bucket lists" (read Bo's blog here). As you probably already know, a bucket list is simply a compilation of things an individual hopes to achieve before they "kick the bucket." This seems like an especially appropriate time to address this topic since our recent visit to a bullfight in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. While tormenting and killing an animal that is large enough to torment and kill me is certainly NOT on my list of things to achieve, I must admit it gave me pause and reminded me of my own mortality. As if Law & Order on constant rotation at my house didn't do this for me enough as it is.

Back to the lists. Ours are still in progress. And in some ways I feel like the more we travel and age the more these lists evolve and change. However, I am pleased to say that as of last week we have checked one very important item off of Brian's bucket list. This item is most likely near - if not situated at the very TOP - of his list. In the British-occupied territory of Gibraltar, on Thursday, August 26, 2010, at 2:57 p.m., Brian came face-to-face with a wild monkey. That's right, folks. A monkey. Well, technically speaking a Barbary Macaque.

I dare not question the significance of such an event to my dear husband. I can honestly say I've never seen him so excited to have his photo taken. On our wedding day, he grew weary of the sound of a shutter click. On the day JJ was born, he might have been a bit too tired or distracted to even think about pulling out the camera. But last Thursday Brian jumped out of the tour van, grabbed the camera, and achieved his life's dream. With the help of our wonderful tour guide coaxing him with peanuts (the monkey, not Brian), this wild animal made my husband's life complete. 

Have you ever seen a happier man?

So, that basically concludes Brian's bucket list:

1. Marry my high school sweetheart. (Completed on May 21, 2005.)
2. Create adorable child with said sweetheart. (Completed on April 19, 2010.)
3. Have a monkey sit on my shoulder. (Completed on August 26, 2010.)

Brian, did I miss anything? 

Here is my tentative list:

1. Pilot a plane with my husband (and refrain from saying, "Are you SURE you know where we're going?")
2. Skydive
3. Bungee jump
4. Take a hot air balloon ride with Brian (since I'll most likely be doing #2 and #3 alone)
5. Conquer my fear of snow skiing
6. Ride the 5 largest roller coasters in the world
7. Ride in an F-15E Strike Eagle...without passing out
8. Ride a mechanical bull
9. Visit every State in our nation
10. Visit every continent (except for Antarctica...because WHY would I want to do that?)
11. Visit at least 50 countries
12. Take a cooking class in Italy
13. Go camping (still can't believe I've NEVER done this!)
14. Go on an African safari
15. Climb the Statue of Liberty
16. Visit my dear friend Genii in China
17. Visit the Sistine Chapel in Rome
18. See the Grand Canyon
19. See Niagara Falls (some time other than March...it was frozen!)
20. And THEN see The Iguazu Waterfalls from the Brazilian side
21. Take JJ to Disney World
22. Salsa dance with Brian (ahem...hint, hint)
23. Conquer my fear of hotel beds
24. And then go on a second honeymoon here
25. Travel to the moon. And wait until it's a little less expensive to do so. A little less the cost of a house.
26. Learn to say all 50 states with their capitols in less than one minute
27. Learn to say the names of all 44 Presidents in less than one minute
28. Learn to say and identify on a map all 194ish (depending on your source) nations of the world
29. Learn to speak Spanish conversationally
30. Learn to sight read music on the piano
31. Learn to play the guitar
32. Learn at least 100 passages of Scripture
33. Teach JJ #s 26-32
34. Compose a song
35. Learn to sew
36. Learn to play golf
37. Publish a book
38. Perform in a play...written by me
39. Host my own talk show (yes, local daytime TV counts)
40. One day have a house with a secret room behind a bookshelf
41. Establish a business with Brian that will give us the opportunity to share the gospel, to grow us closer together as a family, to stimulate us intellectually, and to provide us with the means to support ourselves and give generously!

I have no doubt this list will grow and change as we travel the world and as our family grows. God willing, we'll have the time, resources and ability to accomplish some or all of these.

So, what are some of your bucket list items?

Comments

[Bo]

Ohhhhh...#40...how did I leave that off my list?!? Thanks for the shout out; Great job on the new header! (Is that the proper way to use a semicolon? No? Ok, fine. Whatever.)

[Maria]

Wait! Katy, you have a fear of snow skiing and hotel beds, but you're totally okay with skydiving and bungee jumping?!?! Please explain!

[Lauren Linger]

Several of yours are on mine too! like skydiving (but I'm taking that one off- I know I will never get the guts to do it) Learn to sew is on my list; compose a song.
Go on a cross-country train ride, see New England in the fall, learn how to water ski. Swim with dolphins, cook an entire Christmas dinner for my family

these are just a few and I LOVE bucket lists!
LaLa