The bucket list

A friend recently said she had a bucket list. I don’t have a bucket list. At least not one that I’ve written in my little black book or saved to a file on my computer. Furthermore, my friend said she’d ticked several things off of her list. I can’t say I’ve done that either, but I don’t have a list. I think I need a bucket list. So here goes.

First, I’d like to hop on my bicycle and pedal across the country. That’s the ticket. I’ve driven from Picton to Vancouver, but I’ve never cycled from Picton to Vancouver. That’s going on my list. Well, except for the parts of the country where the grade on the road is greater than two per cent. I’ve cycled on roads that were steeper than a two per cent grade and I don’t think I want a repeat of that thrill, unless the section greater than two per cent is less than four kilometres in length. There. That’s on my list. Oh, and I definitely don’t want to cycle on the Coquihalla Highway, even though I’ve seen people cycle on it. Nope. Not for me.

Next, I’d like to run a marathon in less than four and half hours. Yep, a real 42.195 kilometres of joined-up running. That means I’d have to run each of those joined-up kilometres in about 9.81279 minutes. In my dreams, I’ve done the distance many, many times. I always finish with a fresh face, a spring in my step and a hankering for a bacon cheeseburger. So, in second place on the list, I’ll be running a full marathon in less than four and half hours, and LOML will greet me with a bacon cheeseburger at the finish line—and a beer. Oh, and what the heck, I just ran 42.195 kilometres, a dutchie from Tim Hortons and a macaroon from Tall Poppy.

I don’t really know how long a bucket list is supposed to be, but I guess longer than two items. Right?

Number three on my bucket list would have to be to build a tiny house. Yep, you read that right. My dad was a builder. My baby brother is a builder. I’ve done a bit of fixy-fixy in all three houses we’ve owned here in the County. I’ve become addicted to the tiny houses website. It seems so possible. But probably a bit like the cross country cycling and the marathon thing, though. Heck, this is my bucket list. I will or I won’t accomplish these things. How hard can a tiny house be, right? I am right. I’ve got a great big back yard. I’ve seen what our neighbours have constructed on their properties. A tiny house should be a piece of cake, or a dutchie with a side of macaroons and bacon from Primal Foods.

This bucket list thing is making me think about my potential, so I’d like to knit an entire sweater for someone. A sweater that someone wouldn’t be afraid to wear in public. I’d like to make a wedding dress for myself. Yeah, I am already married, I don’t really need a wedding dress. In fact, I did have a wedding dress that I made, but I wasn’t really happy with it. Now I’d like to make one just to hang in our storage room. I know it won’t be worn by any of my kids, but it’s one of those things I figure I have a better chance of doing than the rest of the stuff on my list. Oh, and a book. I want to write a book. A book people would actually read, and tell their friends to read without adding, “I dare you” to the recommendation. Each of these accomplishments would be rewards in themselves. But Primal bacon, macaroons, a burger and a dutchie would make everything a challenge worthy of accomplishing.

What can I say? I’m all about the bucket list now.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca