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A-tiskette, A-taskette
It’s Sunday and CBS Sunday Morning is on the telly while I write this column. This morning I’m watching a segment about “Bucket Lists”. I’ve been thinking about putting my own bucket list in writing, recently. You know, the list people make when they’re old. It’s not the same as a punch list when you’re renovating a space, although I suppose punching something or someone could be on my bucket list. It’s a bit like a wish list, right? It’s the list we make of things we’d like to accomplish or experience or create before we “kick the bucket”. I have had one in my head since I was a much, much younger person. Last week I actually created a document entitled “My Bucket List 2025”. Who knows why I made that file, because I certainly didn’t put anything, other than the title, onto it.
So, here I sit on a sunny Sunday morning, in April, thinking about what I should put on my bucket list. I think there will be a lot of bullet points with destinations after it. But, you and I know, a destination is so much more than just hopping on a plane or jumping in the car and showing up at a distant locale. I’d like to go to Italy. Oh, I’ve been there—with LOML and the kids. We were there for about two and a half hours back in 1994. It took two and half hours of driving uphill to figure out our fully loaded vehicle wouldn’t make it over the mountain pass. So we ditched the scenic route, turned around, headed down the mountain and drove on the autoroute. A big part of my heritage is deeply rooted in Italy, and I think it’s time to put it on my list. And I figure if Italy is on the list then learning to speak Italian properly should be part of that particular bucket list adventure. Although “we” were brought up hearing people speak Italian at family gatherings, it wasn’t encouraged in our childhood home. Our grandparents and our parents wanted us to speak English. And so we did. Italy is definitely on the bucket list, in particular, Sicily. Right after Italy, and all of the little subsections, I think Ireland and Scotland should be on the list. My dad’s family is from Ireland, but Dad was born and raised in Scotland. And, like the Italian speakers in the family, we did have some “Irish” speakers in the household—but it is a very complicated language. I’ll be happy to see the sights and leave the Irish speaking to the Irish. Is my list all about travel? I don’t think it will be, but it will be about a journey or two.
I’ve been thinking about the Edge Walk. I haven’t really been able to convince anyone to join me, but I’m going to put it on the list. LOML has flatly refused to join me on the edge of the CN Tower, but I think one—or all—of the kiddos might be crazy enough to come along. Personally, I would have to wear some protective undergarments, but I think the big orange jumpsuit and the safety harness would distract from the bulk of adult diapers being pressed into service as I sway my behind over the City of Toronto. Perhaps, right after the Edge Walk, I’ll put a long, long, long cycling trip on my list. I don’t really consider cycling adventures as “travel”. I know LOML wouldn’t have a problem with a cycling trip since we have been on a few cycling adventures. Several years ago we tackled the Confederation Trail in PEI. It was delightful. And we cycled from Brockville to Picton several times and did a cycling trip to Brighton. I don’t think it would be wrong to add another cycling trip to the list. It is my list, after all. Also, I’d like to build a shed/playhouse/tiny retreat in the backyard. Who knows why? I have no idea where to start with this project, but I come from a family of builders, I don’t think I’d get too far without at least two sidewalk superintendents telling me what’s what.
Finally, for the time being, I’d like to volunteer in a real, honest-to-goodness museum. I don’t want to wear a costume. I don’t want to be on any kind of museum board. I don’t want to attend meetings or fundraisers or galas. I don’t want to hear about the budget or staffing. I just want to document artifacts. I’m really good at documentation. I spent three years of my life learning how to be a museum specialist only to get bogged down in the politics of a board, meetings, fundraisers, staffing shortages and budget deficiencies. I would like to buy a pick-up truck. Nothing fancy. As a matter of fact, the uglier the better, but it has to be road-worthy and safetied along with ugly. And, finally (at least this is all I want to share right now), I’d like to learn how to play the drums. Go on, you know you feel the same about this! Who wouldn’t want to pound the ever-living-daylights out something, perhaps a drum kit?
Bucket Lists, eh? We all got ’em. And if you know me, and you don’t, you know Imma gonna work on this list, maybe.
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