Bucket List Anyone?

Are there one or two or a whole bunch of things you'd like to do or see before you leave this earthly plane?

Years ago my husband and I took a cruise to the Caribbean. One of the ports of call was Jamaica. We didn't do the escorted tours when we'd take a cruise, we liked to wander about on our own. But there was a tour that consisted of horseback riding along the beach at Montego Bay. This was a MUST! He wasn't terribly thrilled, in fact he was completely against it. But later it was great fun to be able to say, "we went horseback riding on the beach in Montego Bay." It sounded so romantic.

We used to feel guilty taking cruises or flying to Hawaii or Mexico when our kids were barely making ends meet. Then we remembered barely being able to make ends meet and some how we made it through, so would they. And, we'd have our memories. We might be living on rice, beans, and tortillas, but we'd have those memories. Little did we know. Today, I'm so glad we did all those things we did. I have the memories and I have the pictures, still and motion, to bring them back to life.

After watching Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and their "Bucket List," I've thought about what else I want to do and see before I'm done. It's not the same without that someone special to share it with but then sometimes it might even be better.

+ He loved flying glider and war planes. Not on my list.
+ I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Wasn't on his list.
I'd done the parasailing and hot air balloons, not his thing either.
+ He loved air shows, I love musical theater.
+ I want to see Europe. He'd been there on business and had no desire to return.

So, what's at the top of my list today?

1) I want to be able to fly again. No fear, no anxiety, just go! And I'd still like to skydive just once (a tandem jump with a really good looking, strong but gentle instructor ... hey, I'm a senior not dead).
2) A photo safari. What're my chances? Somewhere between slim and none. I have to
be able to fly again first and then there's that little thing called finances.
3) I want to see a Broadway Musical - on Broadway (there's that flying thing again).
4) I want to go back to our favorite camping/fishing spot in Utah (I could drive it).
5) I want to write short stories (or long ones) - with animals as my main characters.
Having one published would really be cool.
6) I want to spend a week, or at least a weekend, with all our kids and grandkids
around me and me still breathing and mobile. In a jar reduced to ashes isn't
exactly what I have in mind.
7) I want to drive from the bottom of California and see all the California
Missions. I want to follow Fr. Serra's route.
8) I want to throw Katie in the car and just drive; no agenda, whatever happens,
happens. Right now I have two senior kitties dealing with kidney disease and I
won't leave them for more than a weekend and then only with someone checking on
them, but down the road (pardon the pun) it's doable as long as Igor stays home.

Okay that's a start; if I come up with anything else I'll add it in. Oakhurst was once at the top so maybe I'm living my bucket list. Meanwhile, as I look at this, I realize how contented I am, right where I am, doing what I'm doing. The view from the porch rocker's not a bad start.