This has been one of those weeks where I seem to cry at the drop of a hat. I’ve been watching movies on TV that seem to bring out the sob happy part of me. Sunday, I was channel surfing and found The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot, both men have terminal cancer and a short time to live. They decide to live out their life doing all the things they want to do before they die.
The first time I saw this movie was right after I had gone through 6 months of chemo for colon cancer. Heaven knows why I wanted to see it, but I did. I cried through the whole movie, then went home and made my own bucket list. I have revised it as time passes.
So back to Sunday night’s movie. I sat in bed, watching the movie and yes, sobbing all over again. Big shock there. Hubby came upstairs and wanted to know why I put myself through this torture. My answer, because I like the movie. He shook his head and left the room. Last night while surfing the boob tube I found The Parent Trap. The Disney movie with Dennis Quaid and the late Natasha Richardson. Such a shame to know she is gone. I’ve seen this movie too many times to count, but again there I was hooked. And yes, crying. I cried for the girls finding one another, I cried for Natasha realizing she was holding her other daughter Hallie, I cried for Chessie when she was crying holding Annie. And I basically bawled when Nick and Lizzie find true love at the end of the movie.
I’ll admit it; I’m a sap for a sad movie. Ok, truth be told, I even cry at commercials if they get a bit sappy. After the movie ended, I dug out my own bucket list and looked it over. Some of the things on there like ‘Go to Alaska’ and ‘Sell a book’ I have been lucky enough to be able to cross off. Other things like “Go to Hawaii’ and ‘Be multi-published’ are not accomplished, but I am getting closer to the multi-published one.
When I was going through cancer, an acquaintance was literally dying from cancer. She had been through numerous rounds of surgery, chemo, and radiation and this was her third reoccurrence with the dreaded disease. She finally said enough is enough. She wanted to enjoy what she have left for as long as she could. I have never known a woman with more strength, endurance and positive attitude than Lori. If you looked up the word perseverance, you would see her picture in the dictionary. I heard through a close friend that Lori also had a bucket list. Hers was very short. It had two items on it. One was go to England, the other publish a book. She accomplished both of those. Lori then joked that she wished she had made the list longer so she would have had more time. Just thinking of Lori brings tears to my eyes. She left behind a husband and two teenager daughters.
Now, while I didn’t mean to get all sappy and maudlin on you, what I am trying to say is “What’s on your bucket list?” Are there a ton of things you want to accomplish, or maybe just a few? You definitely don’t have to be sick or dying to start this list. Think of it as a long term To-Do list if you will.
My current list has more items than I care to even think about, but being sick put a lot of my life into perspective. It also showed me what wasn’t important. On my list to name a few, I have 1- live long enough to see my children marry, give me grandchildren and great grandchildren. Yup, totally selfish on my part. 2- Get a new bathroom. Working on this one. 3- Be multi-published. That one is in the works. 4- Get an agent. That one is in the works. 5 – Go to Hawaii. Still on there. 6- Give back to those who gave to me. I try to do this every day.
I won’t bore you with the rest of the list, but suffice it to say I plan on fulfilling every one of those items before I leave this Earth. And hopefully I will. So, what’s on your bucket list??? Inquiring minds want to know.
Take care, Patti
March 26th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hi Patti,
I don’t have a bucket list but for me, my number one wish is for my kids to outlive me and that they never be caught up in war. Talk about depressing! For me, it’s the things that are out of my control that are the scariest to contemplate.
I would like to have grandchildren. I would like to be published in print. Truthfully, I feel pretty blessed in life, and don’t want to be asking for a lot more. You know what I mean? (Which is kind of against the spirit of your post, I realize.)
Carly
March 26th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Hi Patti,
I don’t have a bucket list but for me, my number one wish is for my kids to outlive me and that they never be caught up in war. Talk about depressing! For me, it’s the things that are out of my control that are the scariest to contemplate.
I would like to have grandchildren. I would like to be published in print. Truthfully, I feel pretty blessed in life, and don’t want to be asking for a lot more. You know what I mean? (Which is kind of against the spirit of your post, I realize.)
Carly
March 26th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hi Patti,
I’m just trying to see if this will go through as I’ve been having trouble.
Carly
March 26th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Okay, that’s good. I’m now spamming you, lol. Sorry, I kept getting messages that said Yahoo couldn’t take my comments.
Sorry!!!!!!!
Carly
March 26th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Great post Patti!
I don’t really have a list. There is only one thing I intend to do and that is to spend about two weeks back in New York where I grew up and go upstate to Whaley Lake where I spent summers at camp and go by my sister’s grave. It it something I will do. But other than that, I was in a car accident in 1978 — I was in a cross-walk in New York, crossing with a green light and a car hit me. I flatlined and when I woke up and got out of the hospital I knew how fragile life is and how fast it can end. I watched my parents be frustrated and unhappy because they didn’t have the lives they wanted. I didn’t want that for myself so if there was or is something I want to do, I find a way to do it. I either work some overtime or pick up a second job for the money aspect and save until I can go. If no one wants to go with me, that’s fine too — there is a great line in the Richard Harris “My Boy” album (yes album) where he says “If you travel with someone else, you have no one to come home to.” So if no one wants to go or do something with me I just go. I usually meet people while I’m out and about — for some odd reason people talk to me and tell me things they wouldn’t tell anyone else. It’s very interesting that.
My latest goal is to see Wicked and I’m saving up (they’re like $200 for the cheap seats!) and will go when I’ve saved it.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I don’t have a bucket list, but keep meaning to make one. There, that’s my bucket list: to MAKE a bucket list.
My WIP is actually about this with a little paranormal and murder thrown in for good measure.
Interesting post.
PS–I’m glad you’re still around to work on your bucket list. You’re a strong woman to battle back from colon cancer. Yay to you.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I’m sorry I wasn’t here last Thursday to comment. I’ve been ill and have only taken the time to check emails and twitter…
I know that I want to go to the UK before I die. I’d love to see England and Scotland. I have a Scottish heritage so I’d love to see where my ancestors came from. Besides the pictures are beautiful.
I’d love to see Australia and I’d love to see the western state of America.
Number 1 on my list is for my children to live long enough to see their own children grow up and have children of their own. I wouldn’t complain if I was there to see it but I also wouldn’t complain if I wasn’t so long as it happens.
I hope everyone sees the realization of their dreams.