I was visiting with a patient today about life - well, more about end of life. She is over 80 so the topic at hand is appropriate for her. I realized today that my dad is 67 years old. Odd? Not really. But consider that my grandpa (paternal) was 76 years old when he dropped dead. He was healthy and on a walk with his brother at the time. His heart just stopped beating - done! So here is my dad at 67, healthy and strong as an ox, and he is beginning to see folks his age show up in the obituaries. Does it really mean anything? Probably not. Only that I am getting older as well. I know that I am only 36, but if he dies I am now the older generation. I'm not ready for my daughter to be the middle generation. I'm not ready for any of this, quite frankly. My best friends are 40 and 37. My daughter is almost 12. I am middle age. When did this happen?
This then leads me to the real topic at hand. For years I have preached that I should accomplish things before I die, or get to old to do them. Some call it the bucket list. Others call it the top 100 things to do. Whatever the name is, I need to make one and start at the top. Or in the middle. Or at least cross some off. What things really are on the list? Below are a few of the must do's:
- Publish a novel. I will not just settle for an independent publisher who helps me sell 15 copies. I want to see Sam DeLong in print in Barns and Noble. This is the top.
- Summit peaks. I want to do Acanagua in Argentina but I will settle for Gannett Peak in the Winds. I want to see the high points of the world.
- Run a marathon. This has been a goal since I was 17. Looks like I wasted 20 years.
Anyway, more to come.
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