Ever since the movie Bucket List came out (starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) I have heard assorted people mention the term “bucket list”. What’s on your bucket list? What have you accomplished on your bucket list, and the like.
Although I never really made an official bucket list – I have accomplished things; some of which other people that I know have wanted to do before they died but didn’t. For example, my Mom always wanted to go to Hawaii but never got there. My husband once told me that his Mom always wanted a station wagon but never owned one.
So after watching the movie I started to think, what things did I want to do before I leave this Earth. Well, I remembered as a child, I would watch the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night. When I caught my very first glimpse of Disneyland, the Sleeping Beauty Castle and Tinker Bell, I knew someday, I had to go visit California. After all, I wanted to see Disneyland and meet Mickey Mouse and friends. So visiting California and meeting Mickey Mouse was number one on my list.
Another thing I wanted to do was have a ride in a Corvette. I saw the Route 66 Vet and the ’67 Vet from Stingray. Man, to get a ride in a Vet – wow, that would be so cool. I also remember thinking, to meet someone famous; like the Beatles or one of my favorite actors/actresses would be cool too.
In my current adult years, I have a hope to get to a Comic Con. I would love to meet someone from the Star Trek Family or maybe Wolverine or even Captain America. Now that would be really neat.
As I look back on the things that I have accomplished so far I have done pretty well with my short list. To date I have accomplished my Mom’s goal – I won a trip to Hawaii. My trip of a life time. My husband and I took the three children with us. My mother-in-law lived in Honolulu at the time, so we arrived there a few days before the cruise ship was to leave. That gave the children and my mother-in-law a chance to “get to know each other”. The American-Hawaii cruise was a 7 day cruise. It was so cool.
At one point in our marriage, my husband bought the family a beautiful light blue station wagon. That was my mother-in-law’s dream. Oh and I did make it to California with my parents and my sister (before I married) and we did go to Disneyland. A year later, my sister and I went to Disney World. Then after my husband and I married, we moved to California. Currently we live in Southern CA. I lost count of how many times I’ve been to Disneyland. So to say I met Mickey Mouse and his friends – well yes it has been many times. I have pictures to prove it! I’m just sayin. So, I can cross off, California/Disneyland off of my list, I crossed off visiting Hawaii off of my Mom’s list and owning a station wagon off of my mother-in-law’s list.
Back to my own list. One of the jobs I have held in my recent past was working for a group of radio stations. While there I have met, Ben Stein, Buddy Grecco and his wife Lezlie Anders, Kay Ballard, Greg Louganis and last but not least – Carol Channing. Not bad for radio work. I’m still hoping to get to Comic Con and meet some of my favorite Star Trek peeps and the Marvel characters.
Oh and another thing on my list is to get to Italy for a visit. If I only get to go to Rome, that will be the icing on the cake. If I get to see more than Rome, then I will truly be ready to “go home”.
Some of the places I’ve visited in my life time so far are; New York City, Philadelphia, The Statue of Liberty (she’s actually in NJ you know) the Grand Canyon, Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain (Stargate fans will know why that’s important), and Oklahoma City. Some of the places I would still like to see are, New Orleans, St. Louis, Mt. Rushmore and take an Alaskan cruise for the ice bergs and whales.
So far, I feel as I have done pretty well checking off my bucket list. Last summer I was able to cross off an item on my list that I thought I would never have an opportunity to do. I went to OKC to visit my daughter, her husband and my two grandchildren. I babysat while my daughter and her husband went to work. They have a next door neighbor by the name of – let’s call him Ron. Ron is a retired fireman and for many years he saved money so that when he retired he would be able to buy his dream car. That’s right, Ron bought a 2010 Chevrolet Corvette! It is cherry red with gray interior. He had taken it out of the garage one day and that’s when I saw it! It was a good thing I was holding a mop because I drooled! I told my daughter – I’ve always wanted a ride in a corvette.
A week before I was to leave to return to California, my daughter came into the house and said, Mom hurry up and come outside. Okay, I replied. When I got outside, Ron had the gorgeous Vet out again. My daughter said, Ron wants to take you for a ride! Well, I couldn’t believe my ears. The car is immaculate. I was afraid to get into it. I got into it anyway. Ron took me for the ride of my life. We went from 0 – 103 mph in seconds! To say I was thrilled – is putting it mildly! When we returned back to the houses, I got out of the car and then proceeded to let Ron know how happy I was, I think I thanked him like a zillion times. He was so happy to see how happy I was.
My bucket list is down a few items but every once in a while I will come across a picture or hear about something that will peak my interest. I usually add that item to my list. Two of the big ticket items are; own a Cadillac and own a newer home in which I choose the color scheme – shades of blue and other complementary colors. The home will have a nice manicured front and back yard. I will have a flower garden and a vegetable garden. Oh, and a lap pool, too.
I don’t ever expect to get to Italy or to have a nice home like that or drive a Cadillac but who knows, if I don’t get them off of my bucket list, maybe one of my children or grandchildren will. I’ll just have to wait and see!
