The Bucket List

So, I was reading a blog that a couple of parents wrote for their daughter, Avery.  Little Avery was only 5 1/2 months old when she passed away, but she touched so many lives.  At 4 months old, she was diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), a genetic disorder that is the leading cause of death in children and infants under the age of 2, yet no testing is offered to diagnose it, and there is no cure...yet.  This blog was so sweet (and educational).  It breaks my heart that this little girl didn't get to accomplish so many things on her bucket list.  It also makes me hug my little girl a little tighter and linger, and give her more kisses every day (if that is possible), but mostly, it makes me realize that life is short, and so precious.  We need to make the most of it.  There are so many things that I would love to do, and I figured that I'd put together my OWN bucket list (and amend it as necessary).  No, I do not have a terminal disease, no, I am not sick, but you never know when your last day will be.  I want to make sure that I accomplish something that I want to do.  So, here goes...

My Bucket List

1.  Drop Abby off on her first day of Preschool (or any grade)
2.  See Hawaii again (Been there twice, and I want to go back again)
3.  Get a passport
4.  USE THE PASSPORT!  (I've technically left the country once, but it was St. Thomas, which is a US territory, so I didn't need the passport, so it doesn't count)
5.  Go somewhere in Europe (Ireland, England, Italy, France, I don't care)
6.  See more of the US (Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and, yes, Las Vegas)
7.  Take my daughter to Disney.
8.  Drink butter beer (not a huge one, but I still want some of that)
9.  Get in shape (round is NOT a shape) and lose 30 lbs. (yes, I DO need it, don't argue, it's for my health)
10. Try a different kind of cuisine (Indian, Thai, etc.)  FRENCH!!
11. Learn how to clear my mind and meditate.
12. Start a charity (maybe a fundraiser every month for different charities?)
13. Perform as a lead in a show (no singing, I'll break the windows)
14. See Canada (I have no desire to see Mexico)
15. Spend the night in a haunted house/hotel/whatever (just not Eastern State Penn, that place scares me)
16. Grow something different in my garden (do pumpkins & watermelons count for this year?  I think so...if they grow & produce, that is)
17. Swim with dolphins (always wanted to do that)
18. Face a fear and get over it
19. Get better organized at home (seriously, this place is a mess)
20. Go back to work once Abby (and any possible siblings) are in school full time.
21. Meet someone famous

Now, anyone who reads this, I challenge YOU to write YOUR bucket list.  You don't have to publish it, or even tell anyone about it, but set yourself some goals and try to achieve them.  If there's one thing that the baby Avery blog really made me acknowledge, it's that life really is precious, but short.

If you'd like to read Avery's blog, you can do so by clicking here... http://averycan.blogspot.com/