the bucket list.

Lately, I've been thinking about bucket lists.

Not because I'm concerned about dying. 

Because of my dad.

(He's not dying either.)

My siblings and I were chatting via text one day this spring, and my sister said something about how the three siblings should go skydiving together. Mitch and Darrah had done it, but I had been wanting to do it for ages. Our dad also has wanted to do it for ages, so the lightbulb collectively came on. Father's Day was coming, so the three of us bought him a gift certificate to go skydiving in Luverne. Of course, I wanted to go as well. The four of us ended up doing it just yesterday, and it was easily the most insane thing I've ever done. I loved it.

The week before, Mom, Dad, and I did a "scuba 101" type class. That had also been on Dad's list of things to try, and he and I both loved it. We're planning to work towards getting our scuba certifications.

So that's why I have been thinking about bucket lists. I knew I had one, but I'd never written it down. As your classic type A, few things please me more than making lists and checking things off.

Most bucket lists can be divided into experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Mine is no exception. My bucket list is probably typical of most others, but here it is.

EXPERIENCES

• visit all 50 states (30 down)
• visit as many countries as possible (only seven down)
• visit all the National Parks (11 down)
• visit every Minnesota State Park (23 down)
• go parasailing
• swim with dolphins and/or sharks
• see the Northern Lights
• try as much weird food as I can
• read as many books as I can

SKILLS

• learn Tae Kwon Do
• learn to draw/paint
• become scuba certified
• learn to waltz
• learn to speak Spanish
• learn sign language
• learn to surf
• learn yoga
• learn ukulele

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• earn my PhD
  
• publish a book
• do a TED Talk
• become a park ranger (when I retire)
• become a clinic escort for abortion providers 
• become a Master Naturalist

There are a good amount of things I have done that have been on a bucket list and are now checked off. There are also things I have done in the moment that were not on a bucket list, but in retrospect, they would have fit right in.

EXPERIENCES

• ate fermented shark
• rode in a hot air balloon
• tried scuba
• went snorkeling
• went skydiving
• swam in all five Great Lakes
• hiked a few mountains
• helicopter ride in Sedona
• ziplined alongside Niagara Falls

SKILLS

• can drive a stick shift
• can swing dance
• can plan a killer off-the-beaten path vacation
• can play mediocre clarinet and alto/tenor saxophone

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• kayaked from the US to Canada
• contributed articles to a sculpture catalog (so sort of a published author)
• published photographer
• own two arts-based small businesses
• earned my Masters Degree
• found my dream job
• have an amazing crew of family and friends

You know how everyone knows somebody (or several somebodys) they dread seeing? Like "oh that person's coming; I better pretend to be busy"? 

Another bucket list item is to NOT be that person. 

The number one most important thing on my bucket list, though, is to live a good life. My great hope is to be a good person and leave my corner of the world a little better than I found it. I want to make the most of my time with family and friends. 

So far, I think I'm doing ok.