ONE HUNDRED THINGS

I can already tell this is going to be a little bit tough. I was recently challenged to write down 100 things I want to do before I die - a "bucket list" if you will. It's going to take me a while to think of 100 things, so I'll post them in parts of 25 so as not to keep you in suspense. Or maybe so as to bore you only in small doses.

If you care and are still reading, here we go, in no particular order:

1. get my elementary education teacher certification (I can rhyme, I'm qualified)

2. visit Australia (Sadie kind of seems Australian to me sometimes, she has that laid back "no worries mate" attitude)

3. serve on the board of a non-profit organization

4. plant a vegetable garden and actually reap what I sow

5. plant a tree and watch it grow (not literally sit and watch it, just notice how it's grown over the years)

6. read all of John Steinbeck's books (not his personal collection, but the books he wrote)

7. be a mom be a damn good mom

8. have a signature recipe like AuntGi's Sliced Bananas or Grilled Cheese á la AMB

9. read Gone With the Wind cover to cover (as opposed to reading it the other way books are meant to be read)

10. own a horse, and ride it occasionally

11. frolic in the Pacific Ocean

12. go skinny dipping, not necessarily in the Pacific Ocean

13. learn to knit so I can make scarves for my friends and afghans for babies

14. learn to hand embroider so I can spice up those dish towels

15. learn to sew for no good reason

16. own a children's bookstore

17. create a painting that I will hang in my home

18. rescue another dog. . .or seven. . .teen

19. celebrate my 50^th wedding anniversary with Aaron (as opposed to celebrating it with Johnny Depp)

20. throw a surprise party

21. host Thanksgiving at my house, not necessarily cook the meal, but I would make some killer pine cone turkey centerpieces and everyone would wear Pilgrim and Indian costumes

22. take my nieces on a special trip

23. visit San Francisco and find out if Rice-A-Roni really is a treat there

24. design and build a green home, not one Kermit would blend with, one that is energy efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable. I guess technically Kermit might blend with that, I don't know his preferences. Who am I to judge?

25. have lasik eye surgery so I don't have to yell "I can't SEE! I can't open my eyes or my contacts will come out!" when I'm tubing behind the boat

Stay tuned. . .