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Monday, April 03, 2006

50 things to do before I die 

Eight years ago last month, I made a list of "50 things to do before I die" as an activity for a feminist-Christian group I was involved with at the time. Yesterday while going through junk in my den, I came across the list.

Here is the unabridged list, 56 things in all:

1. Lose weight
2. Be healthy
3. Get organized
4. See, hold, love grandchildren
5. Read as many of the books I own that I want (to read)
6. Be a published writer
7. Inspire others (students, daughters) to do their best
8. Visit Great Britain
9. Visit the Grand Canyon
10. Own a Blazer
11. Own a '56 (or '54-'57) Corvette
12. Get out of debt
13. Complete a master's degree
14. See my daughters succeed
15. Continue to love B
16. Keep more cats!
17. Get a greyhound
18. Keep pace with technology
19. Keep in touch with high school friends
20. Budget time
21. Walk, exercise regularly
22. Smile more
23. Be happy
24. Dine at fine restaurants
25. Travel by plane
26. Travel by train
27. Travel by boat
28. Take risks
29. Take advantage of opportunities
30. Give my daughters beautiful weddings
31. Find energy
32. Find spirituality
33. Go on a safari
34. Learn to grow flower gardens
35. Landscape my yards
36. Spend quality time with Dad, [sister] D, [sister] S, [sister-in-law] G and their families, and with Mom and Dad A
37. Manage money wisely
38. Retire happily
39. Buy a motor home to travel in after retiring
40. Visit cities in U.S. (Boston, New Orleans, Key West)
41. Visit Nova Scotia
42. Travel to other countries
43. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets
44. Enjoy sons-in-law
45. Be a beachcomber
46. Take a screenwriting class
47. Write a screenplay
48. Remodel home
49. Decorate home
50. Live long and healthy
51. Renovate old motel for family visits
52. Enjoy good music
53. Learn yoga
54. Learn tai chi
55. Organize pictures
56. Put home movies on video tape

So how many have I managed to do so far? Read on.

7. Inspire others (students, daughters) to do their best--Maybe. I'll never know for sure.

10. Own a Blazer--In 2000 B and I bought a used GMC Jimmy, so I guess that would count.

14. See my daughters succeed--All three have graduated from college, and one with a masters, and all are doing me proud in their own ways.

15. Continue to love B--Yes!

17. Get a greyhound--Yes, but sent her back to the adoption agency after 11 months because she whined constantly.

21. Walk, exercise regularly--I'm trying!

22. Smile more--ditto!

23. Be happy--I am happier than I've ever been in my life. See #32 below.

28. Take risks--Everyday whether I choose to or not! I did buy a motorcycle last year! And I put 7100 miles on it.

29. Take advantage of opportunities--I'm trying but maybe not as much as I should. Repeat: I did buy a motorcycle last year! And I ride it as much as I can.

30. Give my daughters beautiful weddings--I (We) helped a little with L's in 2002. It was a "simple but elegant" affair (in the words of a colleague)! I (We) are helping a little with K's May 27 event which will also be simple and elegant. A's is nowhere in sight which is fine by me.

32. Find spirituality--Actually, nearly three months to the day (June 7, 1998), I broke the chains of enslavement to Christianity, and I've never felt freer in my whole life!

34. Learn to grow flower gardens--I'm trying!

35. Landscape my yards--I'm trying!

36. Spend quality time with Dad, [sister] D, [sister] S, [sister-in-law] G and their families, and with Mom and Dad A--I did as much as I could with parents, and I'm still trying with sisters.

43. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets--I enjoy these as much as I possibly can!

44. Enjoy sons-in-law--I've got one and soon to have another, and yes, I enjoy them!

49. Decorate home--I redecorated my living room last year.

As for those things to do before I die that are not enumerated just above, either I'm still working on them or will work on them or will strike them from the list.

Maybe I'll revise and prune the list. The "assignment" actually was to list "50" things to do before I die.

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