Ever since I first heard the term, "Bucket List," I liked it. It wasn't a bad film either. It's just catchy and somehow meaningful. Every time I think of it, a scene from an old movie I saw when I was a teenager comes to mind.
The movie is "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." I think that's enough mads. At any rate, the scene is the one where Jimmy Durante dies. He literally kicks a bucket. It's a zany movie. I haven't seen it in years, so it might not be as good as I remember. But if it is, you might want to rent it. If it's not, you didn't hear it here.
But I digress...
After seeing "The Bucket List," I began to think about my own. I promptly announced to my young bride (the lovely Ms. Denise) that if I died that day, I wouldn't feel so badly because I've pretty much done everything I've wanted to do.
First of all, she was shocked that I was willing to die that day. It's not that I'm looking forward to my death, however, but I do feel like I've lived a very full, satisfying, and fulfilling life. Secondly, and more importantly, I just felt there were no more major goals for me to attain (except for, maybe, retirement--but that's a whole 'nother thing).
I've gotten to preach (a lot), I've seen at least some of my grandchildren (there's at least one on the way), I finally got my Harley Davidson, I own a Volvo (although my goal there is to put 200,000 miles on it--not sure if I won't get bored prior to doing that), and generally speaking everything from this point on seems to be gravy (or icing, if you prefer). It's not that this list is complete, it's just that there aren't a whole lot of things missing from my life. I feel pretty good about that.
I've finally decided, however, that I should make a secondary bucket list. It's not good to go through life without goals. At least that's what I've been told. So I'm going to take a stab at it. I might add to or subtract from it from time to time. I might check off some things if I actually accomplish them. And, as any good preacher would do, I may even comment on a few as I attempt to tackle them. It could be an exercise in futility, but that's something I've accomplished quite a bit in my lifetime.
Well...here goes...
__X__ Ride my cycle in Rolling Thunder (I actually expect to do this in a few days). (DONE: pretty awesome...and pretty hot.)
_____ Move to FL to be closer to the kids and grandchildren. (This is revised from wanting to move to Charleston, SC. With the probability of new babies to come, it just seemed like the best thing to do. Charleston will only be a short trip away. We love Charleston!)
_____ Own a yellow Jeep Wrangler. (Yellow isn't the key, but hey, when you're old, you may as well do it up right.)
_____ Learn to play another musical instrument (or to play the two I know with considerably more skill).
_____ Work part-time for an airline (that is, if it's true you can fly for free...after paying the tax).
_____ Speaking of flying...let's add a helicopter and/or hot air balloon ride.
_____ Get my weight down to 150 pounds (quit laughing).
_____ Get a tattoo (but I need to find the right tattoo artist who will create the design I want).
_____ Get my ear re-pierced (it used to be pierced, but I got out of the habit of wearing an earring...this probably won't happen until I retire).
_____ Find a unique, manly earring for my newly re-pierced ear (I hate those little rings that most guys wear...those things are way too unimaginative).
As I read down this list, I realized this is a retirement plan...
