Mighty Mighty List
Just like you, we’ve had illness central here at our Napa Valley home.
Sad, sad indeed.
We spent most of the week hugging, holding, wiping and soothing. Thankfully James worked from home this week so I had a partner in help. He’s an expert hugger, holder, wiper and soother. (Part of the reason I married him.)
All the time I spent wiping little girl tears gave me oodles of time to think of what I really want out of life. I’ve had this list, mostly called “What I want to do before I die,” since I was fifteen. I prefer the Mighty Life List moniker, what without oh, the “DIE” part of the name. Maggie’s good. Very good.
This list will grow and change, but here, at this hugging, holding, wiping and soothing part of my life, this is what I want.
Helen Jane’s Mighty Life List
Grow a large flower garden
Pay for a stranger to attend college
Hire an interior decorator
Tour a bourbon distillery
Own a helium tank
Attend the Alt Summit
Make themed Halloween costumes for the family
Write and illustrate a book for children (note to HJ: That does not necessarily mean publish said book.)
Learn to speak Italian
Sew a quilt
Hire a staff
Run a marathon
Knit James a sweater
Teach a college-level class
Write a screenplay
Learn to play guitar
Own a lake house with a canoe and deck
Attend the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
Pay for my kids’ college education in full
Make ravioli
Take singing lessons
Speak at SXSW
Own a vintage Jaguar convertible
Purchase box seats for all my friends at a Packer game
Go on tour paid for by someone else
Take family on an extended (like 6 months or more) cross-country road trip
Own a house with a barn on the property
Publish a cookbook
Get married to a man who would play guitar to our children
Throw an amazing surprise party
Host a baby shower
Give a motivational speech
Own exceptional luggage
Take my family (brothers, nephews, in-laws, the works) on an Alaskan cruise
Visit Ireland
Visit Italy
Host a television show
Take the family to Death Valley
Go back to Tahiti
Live in Napa Valley
Eat food with the following: Ina Gartner, Michael Chiarello, Rachel Ray and Nigella Lawson.
Play craps confidently in Vegas
Make a coloring book
Host a bridal shower
Have at least two children
Take piano lessons
Take an extended canoe trip with my sister
Own an easel
Take my family to Mount Rushmore
Learn to make gnocchi
Tour a winery
Tags: maggie mason, mighty life list, things to do before I die
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Come visit me when I move back home and we’ll take care of that bourbon distillery tour…times six.
http://www.kybourbontrail.com/
RAD. We’ll leave the husbands in charge.
Awesome list. I’ve got a few of these on my own list as well. It’s so much fun to think about all the possibilities that there are in life. Death Valley would be crazy cool. I’ve always wanted to camp there. Keep working on crossing these off and dreaming up new ideas. It’s so encouraging to see other people thinking about the things they want to do in life. Too few people are doing it and don’t realize that we only have a limited time here. Thanks for being inspiring. Good luck!
I love the pay for a stranger to go to college line item.
And this list reminds me that I need to make a mastery master list. And then start crossing.
Hope you’re well, HJ.
These are wonderful. So interesting to see what goes on the list and what doesn’t. And lovely to see how many of your items are outward goals (bestowing upon others/wanting for others/sorry this sounds pompous).
That is one long and rich list! Me too, me too, about learning Italian, and putting someone besides our own kids through college. Alas, we will be hard pressed to do the latter, never mind sponsor someone else. And I honestly believe that the only way I’ll learn to speak Italian is to live in Italy. What are the chances?
Three years ago I posted a similar (but shorter) list on my blog. I am sad to say that I just reviewed it and have crossed off not a single item to date. Perhaps I need to think of less pie-in-the-sky goals. Maybe (speaking of baking terms), “Finally learn to make yeast breads at home.”
http://annenotations.blogspot.com/2007/01/aspirational.html
I’m going to make a similar list along with a list of things that HELL NO! I don’t want to do. I think both are inspiring.
Great list! “Learn to play guitar” is on mine, too, and I’m in the process of signing up to take lessons! Also, making gnocchi is pretty simple. Go for it!
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