first posted:                     november 27, 2008
most recent update:      june 26, 2011

so, i had this list of things i wanted to do, to accomplish or to achieve before i died. i carried it with me from the time i was a junior in college (1997) until i moved to minneapolis (2000).

during one of my moves to a new apartment in minneapolis, i lost my list. i always meant to recreate the list but never got around to it…i was reading my friend marla’s blog today and noticed that she recently posted all the things she wanted to do.

i was jealous – i wanted to do them too! but i then caught the july 2008 issue of real simple magazine – they asked readers to submit their top three things they wanted to-do in their life times, so i figured it was time for me to recreate my list.

here it is.i’m sure as i check more things off, i’ll add others…so stay tuned as the years go by.

my lifelong to-do list…

• visit every state in the continental u.s.. (15 left)
• go to italy.
• go to alaska.
• go to australia.
• go to new zealand.
• go to hawaii.
• go to nyc.
• go to france.
• go to nauvoo, il.
• go to russia.
• go to india.
• go on a mission trip.
• be in chicago on st. patty’s day.
• attend the thanksgiving day parade.
• go on a safari.
• stay at a bed and breakfast.
• take a vacation to a secluded island with a book.
• visit relatives in germany.
• learn how to snowboard.
• learn to ride a horse.
• go rock climbing on a real rock.
• run a 5K.
• run a competitive race.
• run a 10K.
• run a half-marathon.
• complete a sprint-triathlon.
• climb the Y.
• go white-water rafting.
• sky dive.
• ride in a pedicab.
• ride in a hot-air balloon.
• learn how to wake board.
• learn how to surf off a boat.
• dance in a ballroom dance show.
• learn to surf.
• swim with dolphins.
• ride a motorcycle.
• get a tattoo.
• get something pierced, besides my ears.
• skinny dip.
• get a doctoral degree.
• get published.
• coach a team.
• learn how to clean and gut a fish.
• own my own home with a white picket fence.
• attend an awards show in person.
• be on a game show.
• meet (not just see) a movie star.
• be in a movie (being an extra counts).
• attend a taping of a TV show.
• tour the marilyn monroe winery.
• tour the marilyn monroe estates.
• visit marilyn monroe’s gave.
• go to the hollywood walk of fame.
• sew something that someone can wear.
• plant a garden.
• buy a house.
• own my own furniture.
• sleep under the stars.
• watch a meteor shower.
• go to disneyland and disney world.
• climb a mountain (not a midwestern hill).
• walk through central park.
• walk across the brooklyn bridge.
• catch a star fish.
• bungee jump.
• visit paris.
• walk to the top of the statue of liberty.
• see the mona lisa.
• travel by amtrak.
• have a pillow fight.
• take a sick day when you’re not sick.
• build a snow fort.
• tailgate at lambeau field.
• go to a packer game.
• ride in a gondola (vegas-is cheating I know).
• watch the sun set and rise on in the same 24 hour period.
• go on a cruise.
• see a total eclipse.
• see Yellowstone.
• see Mt Rushmore.
• see The St Louis Arch.
• see the grand canyon.
• see niagara falls.
• see the leaning tower of pisa.
• sing karaoke.
• walk on a beach by moonlight.
• have my portrait painted.
• go deep sea fishing.
• see the sistine chapel.
• kiss in the rain.
• play in the mud.
• go to a drive in theater.
• see the great wall of china.
• sell girl scout cookies.
• go whale watching.
• get flowers for no reason.
• donate blood.
• have my picture in the paper.
• ride in a helicopter.
• save a childhood toy.
• visit washington d.c. and all the monuments.
• eat caviar.
• stand in times square.
• tour the everglades.
• see the changing of guard in london.
• visit the vatican.
• buy a car on my own.
• walk in jerusalem.
• swim in the great salt lake.
• ride a mechanical bull.
• drive a zamboni.
• serve in the Military.
• go snow shoeing under the moonlight.