Saturday, January 4, 2014

Updated Bucket List

A few days ago I posted about goals for 2014.  A “bucket list” is not the same, as it is more “open ended”.  Between my husband’s failing health and my (more rapidly) failing vision, setting any kind of timeline is not practical or wise.  I find I have to revise my list of things I’d like to do in my lifetime.  Not only does my situation change, but my feelings change.  My original list had a lot of quilts on it.  The truth is, what quilting I do is not really that good, and it takes me a very long time.  I rarely can or will sit for hours at a time at the sewing machine.  It’s time to admit – to myself – that I’m highly unlikely to get even a fraction of the sewing done I would have liked.  I would still love to play with pattern and design .. but I don’t have any serious hopes of finding someone who woul want to sew up quilt tos according to my imagination; and I have even less hope of finding someone to do the actual quilting affordably.
What I do find is that “rides” become more and more important.  Even with limited vision (and even if I eventually lose it altogether) riding is still fun.
I’m not a particularly “brave” person, but there are some rides I’d love to try.  I hate riding on a busy road with someone who’s got a lead foot on the gas pedal .. but riding really fast in a boat is great!
I want to ride an elephant.  I don’t know why, but I do.  I like elephants.  I’d also like to ride in a hot air balloon.  I’ve been “up” in one – way up over tree tops – but it was tethered.  Apparently I just like being “high”.  Must be the cat in me! LOL!
I used to like traveling by airplane.  I don’t know if I would enjoy that as much now, since I couldn’t see the view.
I also would like some more “mundane” rides.  I would love to take a long ride in a fancy stretch limo.  Ideally, around Christmas to see lights (and drink champagne, of course).  If that doesn’t happen before my vision gets a lot worse, it might have to come off the list.  But I’d still like to ride in the limo, just to see what luxury feels like.
I’d like to travel, even though I do know that’s not likely to happen either.  But I leave trips on the bucket list because – well, because if if I don’t think they will happen, it doesn’t mean I don’t still want them!  I’d especially like to take a cruise.  I’m greedy – if I ever get one, I hope it’s at least a week and not one of those skimpy 3 or 4 day ones.  But I’d take whatever I got the chance at!  I’d even (make that *also*!) love to take a dinner cruise at the coast.
I’d also love to take a long train trip. Despite several accidents involving trains in the news recently, I believe train travel is safe.  It’s just a nice way to travel.  I guess sight-seeing is not so much a part .. although I won’t rule out places with more spectacular sights I could still see somewhat (Grand Canyon?  Niagra Falls?).
I used to want to travel overseas, particularly the British Isles.  I don’t think I’m brave enough to want that any more.  But it would be fun to someday tell my great-grandchildren “I’ve been to see the queen” or “I’ve been in Paris in the spring”.

I’m now in my “upper” 60s.  I figure, based on my health and family history, I have a good 20 to 30 years left.  It would be nice to think I could “make a difference”.  But I’m not good at anything. I have no talent, I’m not “outgoing”, and I can’t drive.   I don’t think there’s much call for setting a pretty table! LOL!   I keep being told how well blind people function .. but that’s not the point at all.  I can find ways to “make do”.  I just don’t know any way to make my life have any point.


Short term bucket list item:  a rest.  Just a few days without any responsibilities.  

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