Not Your Typical Bucket List by Carol Ross

Iceland: This place IS on my list! *

I think it’s probably natural when you lose a loved one to ponder all the things you still want to do before you die. You know, like a bucket list or a life list. The recent passing of my mom means I’ve been revisiting my life-list. (I like this term better than bucket list because it implies that the list has on-going importance, especially now.)

For me, this means I’m determined to stop wasting so much time! Yep, that’s right, I said so much time because a little time wasting is good for the soul. I’m not about to give up my Saturday mornings of too much coffee, too many carbs, and lounging in my PJ’S until don’t-judge-me o’clock.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about all the things I’d still like to do before it’s my time. But there are just so many; traveling plays into a lot of them – seeing all 50 states, visiting Prague, touring Iceland, and hiking to Macchu Pichu rank right up there. Learning to unicycle, fly fishing, and writing the book of my heart are vying for top stop. There are more, of course, but I’m busy, not a millionaire, and young-ish so I’m going to have to prioritize.


Yes to this place! *

Lately, as I contemplate my important and more-urgent-than-I’d-like-to-admit list, I’ve been paying attention to the things people are putting on their lists and checking off. Yes, I even googled “bucket list ideas.”

And then I started eliminating them.

These are the things that I would never do no matter how much time I had left, money in the bank, or youth to enjoy them.

So far, my anti-bucket list includes:

Swimming with sharks ~ From what I understand this activity entails knowingly diving into the water with the most vicious and voracious predator of the sea and having no idea if said beast had a super busy day and had to skip lunch. Why not jog with grizzly bears while you’re at it?


Yeah, this is a big fat NO! *

Storm chasing ~ I think once word gets out what storm shelters are really for this activity will cease, right? Then it will be called storm fleeing and we’ll all be on the same page. And, hopefully, sharing snacks in the storm shelter.

Bull riding ~ Aside from the fact that this sport has been dubbed “the most dangerous organized sport in the world” (www.cpr.org), I don’t understand why anyone would want to climb on the back of a 1,500 pound-plus animal that clearly does not want you there. I liken it to a sluggish mosquito landing on my arm; it’s not going to end well for the mosquito. 


Does this bull look happy to you? *

African safari ~ I can hear the boo’s and hisses from here because this one seems to be on a lot of lists. But for me, the stunning scenery, exotic animal sightings, and fascinating cultures are not worth the risk of meningitis, typhoid, malaria, polio, and rabies. Nope, not even with the vaccines. Plus, Ebola and the zika virus!


I'm going to settle for the safari "photo tour."  *

Surfing ~ I know, I know. This one doesn’t strike me as particularly foolish. (Aside from, see item #1 above.) It’s just that it looks like an awful lot of work for very little payoff. Paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle against the surf out into the ocean, bob around in the water and wait for a wave. Wave is spotted. Manically hoist yourself up onto board. “Ride” a wave for approximated three to four seconds. And then do it all again. Exhausting. I feel like if surfers tried a rollercoaster thrill ride they’d never go back to their boards.

Now, please don’t think I’m judging anyone out there who has checked these items off their lists or wants to partake in these activities. To each his own, march to your own drummer, seize the day, go for it, etcetera. I’m just working on my own list here. But I am curious about what things you’re NOT interested in doing? (Of course, I'd love to hear about what's on your life list, too.)

The Rancher's Twins ~ Book #1 in the Return of the Blackwell Brothers series:





She’s not the country nanny he advertised for


But she could be perfect for him…

Jon Blackwell needs a woman ready to tackle the duties of a cattle ranch and two lively, take-no-prisoners twin girls. But ever since Lydia Newbury showed up at his six-generation Montana spread, the frazzled single father is rethinking, well, everything. The Philadelphia dazzler is a marvel. What he doesn’t know is the secret that has Lydia on the run…





For more information about Carol Ross and a complete list of her books, please visit her website!

*Stunning photo courtesy of Pixabay.


Comments

  1. Love the idea of a ‘life-list’ Carol and also your idea of a list of things I DON’T want to do, which includes all of the above except, as you predicted, the safari. I did do that but more than 40 years ago when I was young enough to not even think about all the negative aspects of travel in places like Africa. I would never want to go sky diving, mountain climbing (heights!) or there’s a thing people can do here in Toronto....step off the outside ledge of the CN Tower, while strapped in and held up by cables. Also eating insects....not at the same time as the aforementioned of course!

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    1. Hi Janice! My rational brain tells me a safari would be perfectly safe in this day and age, but I can't seem to get over the fear. I saw that CN Tower thing when I was googling bucket list ideas. Wowza. It looks terrifying. I'm not great with heights either.

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  2. I like "life list," too. And I agree with every single item you've decided not to include! I still want to sky-dive (tandem jump) and zipline and hit all 50 states, but I know time gets shorter with every day. My sympathy on the loss of your mom. Our hearts are with you.

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    1. Hi Liz! I think I'd like to try skydiving too. I'm not great with heights but I love rollercoasters and helicopters so I think I might be able to do it! Thank you for the condolences. It means so much to me.

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  3. I love the idea of your anti-bucket list. Skydiving continues to top my list. The plane would have to be on fire and going down for me to jump out. But I might actually climb on a bull - well, one of those little ones they use for training. The ground is closer :)

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    1. Lol! You should try bull riding and then tell us all about it! I'm sure some things would be more fun than they appear to be. And wow, bull riders sure are tough guys!

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  4. I returned just yesterday from spending a few days with my mom, so my heart goes out to you, Carol. The Blackwell Brothers series is a very enticing world, and those twins! Well, let's just say that if I hadn't been happy to have mine one by one, those little girls would be on my life list.

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    1. Thank you! There's something extra special about mom's and daughters. The Blackwell world was really fun to create. And yeah, I kind of fell in love with the twins myself.

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  5. Carol, so sorry you lost your mom. Since I have twin grand-daughters I loved your book, because you pegged twin girls well. Things I don't want to do are a lot like what Janice said. Touring Ireland is still my main "want-to" before I die.

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    1. Thank you so much, Roz! That is so nice to hear about the twins. I tried to do my research. I had a great resource in my two sisters; one teaches kindergarten and the other first grade. I'd love to see Ireland, too!

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  6. I would never, never, get in the water with a shark. When I was younger I might have done the safari and surfed. Right now, most of the items on my "life" list involve being near air conditioning. But, I'm in Arizona and last night at 11 p.m. when I thought maybe I could walk the dog, I opened the door, faced the dragon, and said, "Uh, no."
    Poor dog.

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    1. Right?! I don't even want to get into the water where a shark may have been at some point in the distant past. Facing the dragon - Lol! I don't blame you a bit. You guys are baking down there.

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  7. I never did like that term, bucket list--your life-list is much better. I'm with you on swimming with the sharks--I'll stick with watching dolphins from the deck of a boat. I've been surprised by what's changed on my various goal lists. I have lots of places to go and see, and a little less "doing," as in training for a feat of some kind. My life-list of books I must write, even if only to satisfy myself, keeps growing, though.

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    1. I like life list, too! And I'm trying to actually, physically compile it! My goals have changed as well, for the better, I think. Same with me about the book writing. That priority has grown for sure.

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  8. Glad to see visit Chicago was not on the anti-list!! All my youngest and I had to do was watch 47 Meters Down to know we NEVER want to swim with sharks. NEVER. But I would so go to Iceland with you! Maybe we can ask RWA to make nationals more INTERnational? 😘

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    1. Chicago is way, way, way high on my list! Yes, let's go to Iceland!! RWA Internationals - we need to pitch that!

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  9. Love the idea of changing bucket list to life list. Excellent! Will do that right now, LOL. By the way, I'd pay good money to see you learn to ride a unicycle. Now that would have to be worthy of a blog post or...ten. :) You can mark SF off your list pretty soon!! Can't wait to play tour guide for you. <3

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    1. LOL!! Anna, I will video my unicycle attempts for you. It will be an awesome blog post. Cannot wait for SF, which is also on my list. Can't believe I've never been there.

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  10. Fabulous! I won't do anything that involves the ocean. I am one of those weird people that do not find the beach and ocean relaxing, so shark diving, NOT on my list. And other than all the other disadvantages of an African safari, I also don't want to be around that many things that can eat me (lions) or kill me (snakes). The Arizona desert is dangerous enough, thank you very much. When I was a lot younger, I had sky diving on my bucket list, but there is NO WAY I would do that now that I'm more mature (ish) I have decided to remove it.

    One of the things on my to - do before - I'm - too - old list is to travel to all the places that my ancestors are from, which means mostly Ireland, Scotland and England. Right now, that's the biggest thing for me. Well, and the lottery, because I need to win that to do my traveling, lol.

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  11. I agree with your anti-to-do list! And I'm checking off one of mine right after Thanksgiving - I'm going to Israel for 12 days!

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    1. Patricia! I cannot wait for you to tell us all about Israel. I'd love to go there.

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  12. I have to agree with your not list. My dad was a volunteer storm-chaser, my brother did some bull-riding as a teenager, and my son went sky-diving, but I'm the safe (sane?) person in my family. I rode a camel last summer, which wasn't on my list but was rather cool. I think a river cruise through Europe is a daring enough goal. Although those rooms with giant blowers where you can float look rather fun.

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    1. Oh my goodness, your dad volunteered to chase storms? I think my husband would be up for that. I like adventure but I like the safe kind. You know, "safe" danger. A river cruise through Europe wold be fabulous.

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  13. Love your lists, Carol. I’d like to see Ireland and go back to Barcelona. Would never sky dive or zipline. I did walk across the glass floor at the top of the new Freedom Tower, though. How’s that for brave? 😉 I was so sorry to hear about your mom. Hugs.

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    1. Thanks, Leigh! Ireland is definitely on my list. And Barcelona. Yes, I think walking across the glass floor at the Freedom Tower is very brave! Especially since it sounds like you're not crazy about heights. Thank you for the well wishes. I'll take those hugs.

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  14. Carol, your lists made me smile. The movie Jaws had me terrified of going into the water for years when I was a kid! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's passing though. Big hug from me.

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    1. Hi, Rula! I'm happy to make you smile. Same for me with Jaws. And did you see Piranha? That one traumatized me, too. They were in fresh water!! Thank you for the condolences. I'm loving all these e-hugs. :)

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