The other day at work we were discussing the ten things we would like to do before we hand in our tickets and take our final journey. I had to think about it for a few minutes, because I can think of about 100 things I would like to do, but mostly I am constrained by my rather limited financial situation. Even doing any of the top ten is pushing it a bit, but I can dream. The very first thing on my list would be to go to Africa. I have always dreamed of visiting Africa. My mother was born there, and when my brothers and I were growing up we heard so many wonderful stories of my mother's life there. I grew to love everything about Africa, and I still have a few treasures that my mother brought from Africa. I hope one day to be able to walk in the places she spoke about.
The second thing I would like to do is to visit the palaces of India. I think India has the most beautiful architecture of any country in the world. There are whole tours people can take, just visiting the palaces. And I love Indian music. Occasionally when I am running late for work in the morning, I will grab a taxi, and usually the taxi driver is playing Indian music on the radio. There is something about the Indian drums that is mysterious and addictive, and oddly relaxing. It would be a whole new experience to hear it in India.The rest of my list, in no particular order, are some of the other things I would like to do.
3. See Phinnaeus and Marigold graduate from university. That would be wonderful.
4. Attend an Academy Award ceremony.
5. Have a complete makover.
6. Learn to speak Russian.
7. Visit Russia.
8. Write a short story.
9. Do a painting that someone would think was good enough to buy.
10. Take an ocean liner across the Pacific Ocean. (I know, I know ... they don't exist anymore. How sad.)
It was very difficult narrowing my list down to just ten. I could easily stretch it beyond 100. What would be your top ten?
28 comments:
Jo, I just read the three posts I missed during a particularly bad few days, but am too exhausted to comment. Just so you know I rarely miss any of your posts as you always have something genuinely interesting to say.
oh JO! you love India so much ? i had no idea bout that.. well.. if you come to India.. then you are welcome to my place. And even i wanted to attend the Academy Awards Ceremony too :)
I love the Indian music too, whenever i hear it i pretty much stop and listen. It makes me feel good. ( and on a side note, wouldn't it be wonderful if it were acceptable for us western women to dress similarly, the women's clothing seem way more comfortable and flattering)
I can't think of anything special for me to dream about doing but Jo, you can realistically attain the writing of a great short story and painting a piece of art someone would pay for,you already do both and I think you underestimate your talent! That should knock 2 off your list with very little cash outlay.
Dear Jo, as difficult it may be to get things into ten, allow me to try (not ordered by importance, as I thing they are all equally important):
1-obtain the Japanese language diploma
2-become a father for a second time
3-meet one more time with all me friends
4-being able to teach me son what I know
5-dance a waltz upon the Eifel Tower
6-remain bond to my innerst within
7-remain true until the end
8-remain among loved ones
9-being able to leave a trace and
10-remain healty.
Hopefully you will find enough time between yours to take a look at me new site:
http://barefootnavigator.blogspot.com
All the very best for you !
What about Slumdog Millionare? Did you watch it Jo?
It was a nice Indian Movie , i liked it very much.
Have a great day!
Greetings from Istanbul
Visiting Africa has always been a dream of mine, too!
I agree with what Eda said :) Actually I REALLY agree with KathyB - you can write & you are already an artist. Perhaps you could get a booth at a local crafts fair?
I'll have to think about my list - I'll get back to you!
The imagination is a powerful force sometimes. I may just have to imagine mine. If money were no object, the list would be endless.
If money were no object.. the amount of stuff I would do would be endless. I would really like to take a long road trip across North America in an old VW bus. That and live in London at some point top my list. After that things seem to slid around depending on my mood.
I would venture to say that you have already accomplished #9. Have you actually ever tried to sell one of your paintings?
This post is interesting. It makes me think of the movie 'The Bucket List.'
It's interesting how many items on your list have to do with traveling. Perhaps there is some way that you can squirrel away some money and make some of those desires a reality. I'm certain you could at least save enough to buy one of those Learn to speak Russian computer programs!
I would have to think about what I'd like to do most; you're right about it being tough to whittle down to only 10. I'd have to say that top of my list would be living long enough to watch my children become parents.
It's a lovely list, Jo :-) You know, you accomplish the "write a short story" almost daily, here on this very blog.
You've told us all stories, and I'm sitting here going through them in my mind. Through you I've camped by a river on Vancouver Island. Stood and watched as a young man was treated heartlessly in an industry that has at its foundation compassion. Felt your mother's sadness as she yearned for a different life.
That's all just in the last few months, and I could go on, and on. You are already a story teller, Jo. All story tellers do is to take a reader into a different world, and show it to them. You do that all the time.
I don't have a list. I haven't given it any thought. When I try to, I find myself thinking not of places I wish to see, but things I'd love to live to see.
I'd have to give this one more thought, but I think you would have laughed to have seen my reaction to "write a short story". I let out a proper, Canadian sounding, "Like you do everyday, eh?"
Jo, you have already accomplished two of the items on your list! You write short stories every time you post and I have seen a few of your art pieces that you have displayed and they are worthy! Your grandchildren will no doubt fulfill your wish, they are, after all, yours! Start a fund for that trip to Africa. Save your change and maybe market some of your paintings...... Just a thought, my dear.
I've always wanted to visit Africa and India, but the only country I have been too besides the US is Canada(And it is lovely, I must say!) Money is always an obstacle. You should sign up for ETSY - your paintings are wonderful and certainly, people will buy them, JO!
i had no idea bout that.. well.. if you come to India.. then you are welcome to my place. And even i wanted to attend the Academy Awards Ceremony too Domain registration india
They say living on a tropical island is paradise. I say id like to :
eat a fresh apple
eat a fresh peach
eat a fresh watermelon
eat a fresh ORANGE
DRIVE a car 100 miles without going in circles.
FIND a BIG enough parking space.
Get in a CAR and GO to another STATE.
Pay a decent price for milk.
Am I at 10 yet? LOL.. =0)
Live to see (in the US)
1. Universal, single payer health care.
2. Enough green energy produced that we don't have to import oil.
3. Quality education, kindergarten through doctorate, based on ability, not wealth, and repayable through community service.
4. Publicly finance elections.
5. A stable climate.
6. Universal employment.
7. The replacement of our Republican party with one more akin to your NDP.
8. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc., behind bars.
9. Restoration of the Bill of Rights.
10. To remember why women used to excite me.
I agree with Eda also :-D
My list of ten would take awhile to think of and I'm not sure I'd want to share all of them with the public. ;-)
My husband bless his heart wants to take me to Germany to see where my relatives came from. He has very little interest in his own European roots but wants to go help me research mine, this makes tremendous brownie points with me as you can imagine. That would have to be one of my 10.
Get out of debt.
Be skinny, stay skinny
Be mistaken for 30 again, from closer than 20 ft.
Have more than one bichon.
Live on the coast with my kids and grandkids close by. THAT is a fantasy.
Make my living doing what I love.
Not 10 but.....
In no particular order.
1. visit/work at a cheetah conserve in Africa.
2. get in shape.
3. be content with life.
4. live near the ocean.
5. visit NYC to see my best friend.
6. own a horse
7. visit Japan
8. visit the most haunted places in America.
9. eat at the best steak houses in America. (goes against #2 but hey, I like steak!)
10. Meet Micheal Jordan. (been a fan since I was little)
Kind of a bucket list. I need to sit down and put a list together. Haven't really thought about it before. Maybe I'll make that a priority. Make a list of ten things I would like to do. I'll really have to put my thinking cap on. D
I knew what your first thing on the list would be, since I have read most of your blog! I hope you get to accomplish that one in particular! I won't go through all 10, but I can assure you that if I were at one of your art shows I would buy one of your masterpieces. You're a brilliant artist, among your other many wonderful qualities.
I checked the airfare from Vancouver to Cape Town and was amazed to see the cost of a flight ranged from $1,400 to over $12,000!!
There's a post idea for you! Why in the world would there be such a range?! I can see $1,200 to $3,000 -- but then I saw $4,000, $6,000, $9,000 and over $12,000 - wow!
I see it is about 30 hour flight ... time to rent Out of Africa and then start checking with any friends you know in the travel industry!!!
As they say, you only live once....!
Доброе утро, день или вечер, Jo!
У меня тоже один из пунктов - изучение языка, но только английского, и в этом мне помогает чтение блоггов и вашего в том числе. Спасибо, что вы пишите, и пишите интересно. Если чем то могу помочь в вашем пунке №6, обращайтесь.
sounds like a great list....gives me something to think about...
NIck,
Josie might say, Для меня это весьма необычный способ знакомства.
--I don't usually meet people this way.
Africa and India sound like marvelous trips and I hope you get to go there soon. As for #9, all of your paintings are beautiful enough for someone to want to buy!!! Cheers, Jo, have a fun weekend!
You guys are fabulous...!!! What a fun bunch of people you are. Thank you for your wonderful, thoughtful, clever and funny comments. You never cease to amaze me.
My eyes have been bothering me a wee bit lately, so I haven't been at my computer much.
Thanks again, I love you all...!
Cheers,
Jo
On the top of my list is to visit Tahiti! I can dream, can't I? ;-)
I won't even try, cause I'm the kind of guy that will draw up a list of 10 and then find 10 more things to replace the first 10 with.
Ps. Africa is a lekker place.
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