Put me in, Coach
My younger daughter - a cancer survivor - has taught me about creating a ‘life list.’ You remember the movie Bucket List? Same thing but you don’t have to be terminally ill to make up your list of things you want to do.
Her ‘life list’ has some pretty adventurous goals: Bungee jumping, sky diving, climbing Half Dome at Yosemite, all of which she has already accomplished. (The rule is not to tell Mom she’s doing these crazy things until she is safely back on terra firma.)
My ‘life list’ is much more prosaic. To celebrate my milestone birthday this weekend, my husband and my 9-year-old grandson joined me at the local batting cages to test our respective baseball swings.
It’s true I was a tomboy in my youth, certainly one of the best players in my seventh grade class and in the neighborhood pickup games with boys. I even played a little softball in a housewives league. But time passes . . .
I wondered if I could still hit a ball.
Hmm, not so much. Out of 24 pitches that came my way, two went totally past me without so much as a whiff. I had more strikes than I care to count, a half-dozen foul tips and TWO HITS!!
That gave me a rousing batting average of .083!
Furthermore, those metal bats sting your hands like crazy when you actually connect with a ball. (How on earth do major leaguers even see, much less hit, 90mph pitches?)
But I’ve checked that one item off my ‘life list’ and I’m ready to move on to the next: Seeing wolves in the wild and hearing them howl.
Oh, and the good news is, the celebration ended with a very nice out to dinner, courtesy of my husband. <g> That’s always on my ‘anytime list.’
What’s on your ‘life list?’
Charlotte Carter
Books that leave you smiling -
From Love Inspired:
Montana Hearts, 12/2010
Big Sky Reunion, 5/2011
Categories: Celebrations, fun
Tags: Life List Bucket List Baseball
Char, great post. I haven't really thought about a life list. I guess right now it would be to get my kids all through school and out on their own. My youngest is a senior in high school, so I'm almost there.
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Nancy, the 'life list' is for stuff you want to do AFTER you do all the stuff you HAVE to do. My daughter has a high school senior and a 10 year old, and she's knocking off her list. Think FUN for you! <g> Hope to see you in September. Char......
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How cool! I wonder of I could still slalom water ski? I still have my ski, refuse to get rid of it. So many memories.
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That would be perfect for your 'life list,' Kara. You're saving the ski because your heart is still with the fun you used to have skiing. Just be sure there's a good swimmer nearby. <g> Char......
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Hmm, things on my life list. Finish a novel, get a book published, travel to all of the continents - I've got 2 done, go to each National Park in the USA. This brings me to my advice for YOUR next life list item, go to Yellowstone. There are wolves and grizzlies and elk and buffalo (bison) and... you'll likely see one there and possibly hear them howl.
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Maria, how did you guess? We've got reservations for wolf watching in Yellowstone at the end of September. <g>
I like your list of visiting every continent and every national park. We've done almost all of the national parks except the Everglades. Hubby said that's on his list. Me? I'm not so fond of alligators and humidity.
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I've gotten most of mine done, Char. Still want to tour British Isles. Being a 'monkey' in a sidecar motorcylce race was on it, but with back surgery, probably gone with the hang-gliding dream. Sigh.
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Hey, Laura, having dreams and life list is flexible. You're a youngster (as compared to me). There are ever more dreams to achieve. Go for it! <g>
Char.......
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