Life List

Boooyah! Very few people will think this is cool at all, but in typical rural-girl style, I think it's the coolest... today I learned how to drive a Bobcat All-Wheel Steer Loader!!! (It's like a mini-bulldozer.) I disturbed the men for a moment- they were busily making roads through the woods (most convenient for cross-country skiing!) for a quick lesson in excavation. I had a blast! Next thing you know, I'll be wearing tan work boots and a hardhat.

Anyway, the moral of the story (for those of you not interested in heavy machinery) is that I believe that trying new things is essential to living a full and interesting life. The concept of the "Life List" has become very popular lately. I've had one for a long time, so in honor of my new Bobcat skills, I thought I might share it.

Things To Do Before I Die:

- Go spelunking- not "tourist" spelunking, but the real deal.
- Design a piece of jewelry and have it made.
- See an opera in Sydney
- Write a book and have it published.
- Visit Rome and Greece.
- Be involved in a movie, somehow- as an extra or whatever.
- See a Broadway musical in NYC.
- Give a lecture.
- Ride a mechanical bull.
- Go skydiving, rip-cording, bungee jumping...
- Overcome my fear of snakes.
- Learn to play the guitar better.
- Organize and get funding for a humanitarian project.
- Climb a few pyramids/temples- Mayan, Aztec, and Egyptian.
- Go snorkeling on Molokai.
- Cover every inch of every Smithsonian museum.
- Go to a renaissance festival.
- Go to Comic-Con or other convention.
- Pet a tiger. (I've petted a lion before!)
- Eat one meal that costs at least half a week's wages.
- Go to Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter's.
- Take a cruise.
- Ride a camel.
- Learn how to fence.
- Play tennis at a country club. Laugh hysterically afterwards.
- Have a picture taken of self in tank, fighter jet, space shuttle or something equally funny.
- Have a "library" in my house- even if it's just a walk-in closet filled with books.
- Get front-row tickets to an arena concert.
- Read every "noted" classic.

That's what I have so far. I don't plan on keeping track of numbers- this will never be my "100 Things to Do Before I Die" or anything like that, and I plan on adding things to it for the rest of my life. I don't like the idea of having a finite laundry list that I check off as I go... for me, this is more of a list of values and a reminder to be adventurous in my own way. I plan on having lots of great stories to tell my grandchildren.