“Good lord woman, is there nothing you haven't experienced?”  And then, “I'm guessing your "bucket list" is extremely short, or perhaps non-existent.”

I think it is easier to list what I have done really, but here goes what I know I haven't done yet... (Oh, and the Haiku is at the end.)

These two questions sure got me to thinking.  Well, as a matter of fact there are a few things I have yet to experience.  Notice I said “yet”, because I really believe all things are possible.  If my life has not been an example of this so far, I don’t know what would be.

A bucket list...I actually have some things on my bucket list.  I have wanted to go to Africa for decades.  I had to pass up the one trip I could have made when I was twenty-four.  My hunting buddy, Sully, invited me on a Safari, but I had something working against me; something that meant I must choose necessity for maturity over my wants.

I was working at Mustang when he invited me during a quick phone call (the only kind possible).  It was so tempting, but not even ten hours before his call I was awakened from a sound sleep, by a maid who then seriously stated,  “You have an emergency phone call.”   It turned out my six-year-old son was going to have surgery in three days.  I chose going to Hawaii be by my son’s side, no second thoughts.

I never got to experience an Elvis concert.  That was just something I kept putting off, figuring I would have plenty of time to catch him, in Vegas.  This remains a huge disappointment.  Not even my encounter with Roy Orbison makes up for this.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Roy Orbison, but I saw him in ’64.  In fact I got a letter from him thanking me for the ride.  No, not that kind of ride...but hey, that story is for another day.  Anyway, Elvis dying was a huge wake up call, you just never know.

I want to take an around the world cruise.  This would probably be a twofer,  since it would cover Africa too.  I like being on the ocean, something about it calls to the most basic of my instincts.  Maybe it is the rocking of the boat I find soothing.  Perhaps it is because everything is thought of; all I have to do is decide what to do, go to a lecture, movie, the library, the pool, the gym, or just stay in sitting on my balcony watching the white water being kicked up as we slice through the water.  At night the stars are fully present, probably some I see are not even in existence because of the distance and speed of light.  Then there are the port days.  A chance to go eat a meal, meet some of the people, see something of their culture.

I have yet to be a grandmother.  Frankly with a son 42 and having a running battle with drugs and bad women, I can wait.  It is not going to make me any less of a person if I never am.  It is just one of those things I have no control over, and I am fine with it.

There are many things I wouldn’t want to experience...but if something bad should happen I plan on taking whatever good I can find in it and squeezing it until it will drown out the bad, just like I always have.  Those are the surprise lessons.  You can only be prepared by having the right attitude; “Why not me?” 

I have a few private experiences I would like to make happen.  One is within reach, maybe two.  Oh hell, both are, it just is a matter of when.

But generally I would have to say I have always managed to find a way to make things happen.  I related to the imaginary character of Forrest Gump in this way.  I found myself in extraordinary places in very interesting times.  I met people and did things that would have never been possible if I had not made lemonade from the so-called lemons of life. 

As for the things on my bucket list...I hope I keep adding to it, I don’t believe I would like to kick an empty bucket when the time comes.

And now for my Haiku:

 A fantasy born

Now what do I do with it?

Whatever I want.