Author: Easin' Along

Bucket List

Sometime in the late 1990s, probably around the time I turned 50, I spotted a two-page ad in a magazine that caught my eye.  I can’t remember the name of the advertiser or even the magazine for that matter, but I clipped out one of the pages containing a list entitled “20 Things You Should Do In a Lifetime” and pinned it to the bulletin board above my desk. That “Bucket List” stared back at me for months before I decided that, at age 50, there is much more to life than work, and that perhaps I should use the list as a loosely constructed road map for the next 50 years. Around the same time, I first saw the movie “Shawshank Redemption,” and I became struck by the expression “it’s time to get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’”.

Within a couple of years, Helen and I downsized and moved to a smaller home. During the move, the items on my bulletin board found their way into a file folder and thus forgotten. To be precise, I was busy livin’, but the 50-year road map had added a fork or two and, I suppose I was happy with the way things were going.

Earlier this week, I decided to do something everyone else is doing during this COVID pandemic and clean out some drawers and old files.  Among those old files, I discovered the “Bucket List” now twenty years old. Had I checked off any of the items on that list? I found a few and decided I would share my successes on Easin’ Along.

 

1. Visit the country your ancestors called home

The first item on the list was the easiest of all to check off because Helen and I moved to Germany shortly after we were married. Our family records indicate that I am a direct descendant of a family that migrated to America from Manheim, Germany, in the late 1700s. Imagine my surprise when I found the sign in this picture.

 

2. Leave a dollar where a kid will find it

4. Lend money to a friend without expecting it back.

Number two is one of my greatest pleasures.  I love leaving money (and candy) around for my grandchildren to spot. I also send them a two-dollar bill in every letter I write to them.

Number four is something I suspect we’ve all done…Americans are so generous.

 

7. Teach a class

While waiting to enter the Army, both Helen and I signed up as substitute teachers at a Junior High School near our home. I didn’t teach those kids very much, but I enjoyed the experience. Later, I spent two years teaching Command and General Staff College courses to Army Reserve Officers.  That job was very challenging, but I’m proud of what we accomplished.

 

9. Plant a tree

As a homebuilder—been there, done that, and don’t want to do it again.

 

10. Fly the Concorde

This item should never have made a list.  The Concorde never made sense (or money) anyway.

 

12. Make your own beer

As a concession to my weight loss program, I’m not drinking beer right now, but I love it. A few years ago, my son gave me a beer making kit, and I was eager to try my hand a creating a good lager, my favorite brew. I followed the recipe and the steps explicitly. I stored the mixture in a dark closet at just the right temperature. I bottled it and placed it in the refrigerator to marinate. I thought the day would never come that I would take a big pull from one of the bottles, but it did.  Yuck!! Cat urine could not taste any worse than the stuff I put together. So much for beer-making—checked it off the list and went to a pub!

 

14. Learn to speak French

Learn is a relative term.  I took French in high school and again for a semester in college. I still remember some of it and can recognize a few words in print, but when we visited France, I tried speaking to some of the French people. I suppose they don’t understand French spoken with a Tennessee twist. My Latin is much better.

 

16. Be able to recite three good toasts.

If you look carefully at the original list (top of page), you should be able to spot two marks at the end of the sentence for this item.  I gave two toasts at rehearsal dinners for my sons.  They were damn good too. I’m saving the third one for the first grandchild to take the plunge, so this item is ongoing.

 

17. Kiss someone passionately in public

I think I had this one wrapped up by the second grade.

 

19. Shoot the rapids on the Snake River in Idaho

At the time I clipped this list from a magazine, my youngest was working in Jackson Hole, WY as an intern after college.  I called him one day and asked if he could book us on a float trip down the Snake, but it had to be in Idaho. He booked a trip on the western side of Idaho along the Oregon border.  My older son had was in the Army at the time and living in Utah.  He met us in Jackson, and we drove across Idaho to begin the trip. Without a doubt, this experience was one of the most wonderful of my lifetime. We entered the water early in the morning with two other couples from Oregon and a guide. We were at the very bottom of a deep, narrow gorge, and had plenty of fast water to keep us energized. Along the way, massive elk, the size of an Army tank, would walk out to greet us.  Long lines of Chukars came in and out of the grass beside the water to say hello. The trip lasted an entire day, and at the conclusion, a jet boat ferried us back up the river to the starting point. We were exhausted, but we had a day I’ll never forget.  The picture here gives a peek at the deepness of the gorge.

So, nine items out of eighteen checked off (I didn’t include the Concorde), and nine remain.  Honestly, I only see one other thing that I might complete—a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. If I had discovered my file earlier last year, I would have scheduled a ride when we visited the Grand Canyon on our trip west. Oh, well, I plan to go back there.

Of the remaining items, I would genuinely love a balloon ride over the Serengeti but, unless I can get there by towing a fifth-wheel, I will probably have to pass. 

Thanks for letting me revisit my list with you. Share your list in the comments…please.  I’ll be Easin’ Along now.

For this Memorial Day, Easin’ Along created a video out of our photo library to acknowledge our Creator and the gift He gave to us–America’s staggering beauty.  We dedicate this video to our fallen heroes and to those brave souls at the forefront of the fight against this pandemic. You have our utmost gratitude and sincere thanks.

On Sunday, Helen and I joined my brother and his family outside a window of the retirement home where our Mother lives. Mother loves Taco Bell, and we treated her to lunch. Although the time we shared was delightful, the experience was limited to peering through a window while talking over our cell phones. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the time we have.  At 92, Mom remains as blessed as ever with a lively and spirited outlook on life.  Every week she gives us an update on her success at Bingo, and, after three months in her new home, she is up by $9.25 in bingo winnings. I love it. She will find a good cause and give the money away eventually.

Mother’s good nature and giving ways are traits she obtained from her Mother—our lovely and sweet Grandmother.  Her name was Annette, and her overwhelming capacity to love and share that love with her children is as great as anyone I have ever known.  I miss her and her infectious laughter tremendously.

A few posts back, I told readers that I send a letter to one of my grandchildren every week. Sometimes I make up a story for them where that week’s recipient takes on the character of a Spider Monkey and becomes involved in an adventure in the Banana Jungle.  In honor of my Mom and my Grandmother, I wanted to share a story that they would tell my brother, my sister, and me at bedtime.  My Grandmother would recite it to us as many times as we asked.  Her stories were a great gift to us, and I wanted to make sure that the gift lived on.  This week the letter goes to my youngest granddaughter–Annette’s great-great-granddaughter.

May 11, 2020

Dear Carly (not her real name),

BeBe had a delightful Mother’s Day.  Any day that she gets flowers from Big Daddy and talks to her children and grandchildren is a beautiful day for her. It was so good to see you on Sunday afternoon even though you looked exhausted after the camping trip.  If you were tired, I hope that means you had a great time.  The pictures that your Daddy sent us were beautiful, and it looked like a nice place to camp. I know that Lucy would love to visit there.

Speaking of camping trips, I heard about a camping trip to the Banana Jungle that turned out to be a lot of fun for Carly Spider Monkey and all of the Monkey Buddies. I thought you would want to hear about it, so I’m sending it along to you.

The weather in the Banana Jungle is gorgeous right now, and all of the Monkey Buddies are ready to go camping after a long, cold winter. Carly Spider Monkey said she knew just the perfect spot to camp next to a lovely pond of water. She told all of the Monkey Buddies to get their tents and camping gear loaded onto the Zebras, who would carry them to the campsite. Everyone did that, and all the Spider Monkeys hiked to the campsite early the next morning.  They got set up before noon, then played coconut ball, went swimming, went kayaking, and ate S’Mores and bananas cooked over the big campfire.

Soon it was time for everyone to crawl into their tents and go to sleep for the night, but all the Monkey Buddies were still jumping around and not ready for bedtime. Well, Carly Spider Monkey was very tired and wanted to go to sleep right then. She knew that she had to do something, or all of the Spider Monkeys would keep her awake until very late.  She called all of the Monkey Buddies over to the campfire and had them sit on the mats of Palm tree leaves she had gathered.

When all of the Monkey Buddies calmed down, Carly Spider Monkey said, “I want to tell everybody a story my great-great-grandmother shared about what can happen to little monkeys who go out after dark. This story is about a little kitty, not monkeys, but you will get the idea, so listen up.”

Carly Spider Monkey began:

Once upon a time, there was a little kitty cat who lived in a big house with his Mommy.  One afternoon, he wanted to go outside and play so, he asked his Mommy if he could.

“Yes,” she said, “but you must come in the house before dark.”

The wind was blowing when little kitty cat ran outside.  He was having the most delightful time chasing leaves and butterflies in the wind and didn’t notice that it was getting dark out. It was also beginning to rain.

Little Kitty looked around and didn’t know where he was. He had chased leaves from his house, and now, he was LOST!

“Oh, my,” Little Kitty began to cry. Off in a field, he saw the light coming from a barn so, Kitty scampered over to it and knocked on the door. Mr. Pig opened the door and said,

“Kitty cat, what are you doing out here after dark in the rain?”

Oh, Mr. Pig, I’m lost, and I’m so cold and hungry.  Can you give me something to eat?”

“Why yes,” said Mr. Pig, “I can give you some corn.”

“Mr. Pig, little kitty cats can’t eat corn!”

Mr. Pig said he was sorry and then said, “You go next door and knock on Mr. Horse’s door.  Maybe he can give you something to eat.”

“Thank you, Mr. Pig,” Little Kitty said politely.

Little Kitty walked next door and knocked at Mr. Horse’s house.

Mr. Horse opened the door.  He took one look at Little Kitty and said, “Why, little kitty, what are you doing out here after dark in the rain?”

Little Kitty said, “Oh, Mr. Horse, I’m lost, I’m wet and cold, and hungry.  Can you give me something to eat?”

Mr. Horse said, “Of course! I can give you some hay.”

“But, Mr. Horse, kitty cats can’t eat hay,” said Little Kitty Cat.

So, Mr. Horse said, “I’ll tell you what, go next door and see Mrs. Moo Cow.  I’m sure she will give you something to eat.”

Little Kitty went next door and knocked. Mrs. Moo Cow opened the door and said, “Oh, my little kitty, what are you doing out here after dark in the rain?”

“Oh, Mrs. Moo Cow, I’m lost, and I’m cold and wet and very hungry. Can you give me something to eat?”

“Why, yes,” said Mrs. Moo Cow. “I can give you some milk.”

“Oh, goody, goody, goody,” said Little Kitty. “Kitty cats just love milk!”

Mrs. Moo Cow gave him all the warm milk he could drink. Then, she told him to climb up in the barn loft and snuggle down in the hay and go to sleep. She said, “Little Kitty when your mother comes down to the barn in the morning to catch mice, I’ll tell her that you’re up there.”

Sure enough—the next morning, Little Kitty woke up and someone was licking and licking his face.  He opened his eyes, and there was his Mommy!

Little Kitty and Mommy walked back home very happily.  Little Kitty learned a perfect lesson and never again stayed outside after dark.

When Carly Spider Monkey finished the story, she looked around the campfire. Two Monkey Buddies had their eyes almost closed. Two more stood up slowly and gave Carly Spider Monkey a big thumbs up.  They walked over to their tents.

Carly Spider Monkey shook the two sleepy Monkey Buddies and pointed them to their tents. They crawled in and zipped the doors closed. Carly Spider Monkey enjoyed one more S’More and then poured some water on the fire and watched it go out.  She went to her tent and very quickly went to sleep.  Tomorrow would be another big day.

 

Have a great week, Carly.  I love you very much! Give your Mommy a big hug!

Big Daddy

Please visit Sunday Stills for other shared gifts from the Mothers and Grandmothers we honor this time of the year.