What’s in your pail?

I've never seen the movie The Bucket List, but from what I’ve read Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two men who have terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die. It seemed like after that movie it became all the rage to create your own bucket list. 

There is something about that I just don’t like. Which is odd because I love lists. I just seems negative to me. It sounds so final. I’ve done everything on my list, now I can die. It sounds limiting. If it’s not on my list, I’m not going to do it. Or, what if something you want to do just isn’t possible? Like have a baby. 

At the end of last summer we came up with an alternative – the Sand Pail List. It’s good for just one summer and one summer only. It’s not a list of chores or tasks or goals. It’s a list of fun things we’d like to do that maybe we’ve never done or haven’t done in a long time. It’s also a reminder for when we look at each other and say “I’m bored. What are we going to do now?”

A few things on our list for this summer are:

· Visit the local historic Farm and Village. - The last time I was there was in 1987!

· Stop for ice cream at the local stand. – We’ve driven by it on our way to and from church for almost nine years and have never stopped. It’s about time.

· Go to at least one ethnic festival. - One summer, early in our marriage, we went to a bunch. What a great way to try new foods and partake of their entertainment. And they are usually pretty cheap too.

· Try out a new winery. – I have a particular one in mind, but you never know, we might find something else.

· In Amish country go for a buggy ride.– Just because.

· Go to at least one free concert. – Both near home and near my workplace the cities have weekly Friday night concerts. Most are cover bands so it will probably be a trip down memory lane.

· Go for a hike in one of the county or state parks that we haven’t yet been to.

· Plant something new in the veggie garden. – Looks like this year’s new item is going to be peanuts

There’s no prize for doing them all and there’s nothing to say we can’t do them more than once. But, my guess is that we’ll have a grand time this summer!

What’s in your pail?

AMDG