My Bucket List

Photo by Dallin

Lots of people have bucket lists. Some are quite obsessive about checking the items off. My approach is more casual. This bucket list is probably about ten years old. I used to do a Bucket List assignment in my Advanced Creative Writing class, so, of course, I had to do mine. I came across it recently. I thought it would be interesting to see how I’ve been doing. Not sure how much it will interest my reader, except that it might inspire you to get out yours and see how you’re doing. Even better, it might inspire you to make one. By the way, the comments are my update on how I’m doing.

Dallin Malmgren’s Bucket List (circa 2009)

–I want to walk the Augusta National golf course. Nope. Not going to happen, at least not this year.

–I want to swim in the Aegean Sea. Damn! We had a cruise of the Greek islands scheduled for October.

–I want to be struck by lightning on the golf course (death). Still how I would most like to die.

–I want to publish three more books. Well, I did self-publish them on the internet.

--I want to save someone’s life. I think I did, once…but that was long ago.

–I want to stay up on a windsurfboard for two full minutes. Tried it once…lasted maybe 45 seconds, hardly moving!

–I want to play golf in Scotland. This could happen. My brother-in-law loves golf, and the two sisters would love to go to Scotland!

--I want to eat pig that has been cooked on a spit. Nope. I would really like to do this one.

–I want to go to the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Had a chance and didn’t take it.

–I want to attend all my nieces’ and nephews’ weddings. All good so far.

--I want to go to Hawaii with Karen. Yes! We did a little over a year ago!

–I want to teach tennis to a grandchild. My son is such a better teacher than I am.

--I want to cook a gourmet meal. I say I’ve done that—depends on your definition of gourmet.

–I want to dance uninhibitedly. Sigh. I so wish!

–I want to have a retirement party. Ours was at the Pour Haus in New Braunfels—absolute blast!

–I want to ride a bicycle 100 miles in two days. Not going to happen.

--I want to have a Clemens tennis reunion. Too long ago, too far scattered. Should have done it when I was still teaching.

–I want to buy my wife an expensive piece of jewelry. Honestly, she doesn’t want one.

–I want to backpack somewhere rugged. Again, too old.

–I want to shoot my age in golf. If I can stay healthy, I think this is a possibility.

–I want to win a tennis tournament. Did once, long ago.

–I want to give a eulogy (not my family!). Don’t really want to do that anymore.

–I want to go to Australia. Some day.

–I want to take a cruise. Alaska! It was pretty, but I discovered I am not a cruise person.

–I want to see Mt. Rushmore. Still haven’t. Still want to.

–I want to live a week in a strange city. Can’t decide which city.

–I want to talk with an expert bartender. I’ve got my own rotation—don’t see the need as much.

–I want to see all three of my children have successful careers. And they’ve done it, bless them!

–I want to reach my magic number. Can’t remember what a magic number is!

–I want to grow the entire meal that I eat. Haha! Boy was I dreaming on that one!

–I’d like to live alone on a mountaintop for a week. Doesn’t seem likely, does it?

–I want to walk the Oregon trail. Do hikes in Bend count?

–I want to see Bruce Springsteen in concert. Probably won’t, but he really is the best performer I’ve ever seen (on video).

–I want to catch a shark. Don’t care about that one anymore.

–I want to shoot a skeet. I tried, but I don’t think I hit any.

–I want to, I need to, I have to make a hole in one. Not yet, but I feel like I have God’s promise on that one.

–I want to eat every burger on the Texas Monthly list. I think I tried 4 and then lost the list.

–I want to have a blog that gets lots of hits. Got the blog—the lots of hits seems egotistical to me now.

–I want to collaborate on a song. Me and Alyssa Leland wrote a country music song, Who’s gonna mow your lawn when I’m gone?

–I want to study William Faulkner. Nope. I bogged down on The Sound and the Fury.

–I want to read The History of Civilization. Now I’ll settle for one volume.

–I want to see Stonehenge. Saw a fake one outside of Kerrville—that’s good enough.

–I want to see where they filmed The Lord of the Rings. (Helm’s Deep?) Maybe when I go to Australia.

–I want to learn to abide in Jesus. Still learning.

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