My Mum and the Bucket Listers

If you’ve ever seen the movie The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, you are already aware of what it means to have a bucket list. For those of you who have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it. For those who do not know what a bucket list is, it is essentially a list of things you wish to do in your lifetime before you kick the bucket, so to speak.

A bucket list can consist of anything from having a photo taken doing a specific pose, to visiting the Grand Canyon or swimming with dolphins. It can even include completely ridiculous goals like the adorable little old lady who swam in a pool of ramen noodles in the movie Patch Adams. The important thing is to recognize your dreams and to make a point to see them through because life is far too short not to and anything could happen tomorrow to prove just that. 

I learned the importance of this when I was eleven years old and my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She was only 36 years old (*cough* 37 love you mom!). The year before, my grandmother, her mother, had passed away from her own battle with this indiscriminate disease that affects more and more people every year. I’d like to say that these were my only experiences witnessing cancer attacking those I love but it was far from, add more than a dozen or so people. However, it was because of my mother that I learned to see the positive in even this.  

My mother, rather than going along with what others told her, decided to take matters into her own hands. She researched the treatments and decided on her first bucket list item; a bowl of marbles. She was going to beat this disease and she was going to start living her life. The bowl of marbles was her tally against cancer. Every day she made it through the pain, the treatments, the side effects, she placed a marble into an empty fishbowl. The more difficult the day had been, the bigger the marble; the bigger the reminder that she had faced it and conquered. The bowl of marbles was a reminder of what she had accomplished so far, a reminder that she was strong and could come out on top.  

The bowl grew full and plans began to develop for what else should be put on the bucket list. When the battle with cancer was won, my family and I went on our first family trip. We went to Orlando Florida and together we celebrated my mother’s victory, and we celebrated that the cancer had taught us to live. 

You see, we all have an expiration date and though many of us hope that it will be later in life, my mother’s cancer was a reminder to our family that there are no guarantees and that there really is no better time to seize the moment than right here, right now. My mother, through her own positive outlooks, taught us not to wait to start writing our bucket list, not to wait to start checking things off. She wrote hers and I am happy to say that not only has she been checking things off (such as getting her motorcycle license at 40 and going sky diving for her 50th birthday- I know, my mom rocks!), but our family has also gained friends who have joined us in our mission to check things off our lists. 

We call ourselves The Bucket List Group, we do little things like murder mystery game nights, barbecues, water fights, and airsoft pellet fights. We also do big things like trips to go white water rafting, and elaborate theme parties. We encourage each other to do things as a group and individually. 

Because of my mother’s marbles (even though most days I think she’s lost them hehe), we have been inspired to keep checking things off our own bucket lists. It is because of my mother that I have traveled to various countries and will continue to do so every year, and it is because of my mother that I write this blog to encourage you to do the same. 

As an individual or as part of a group, it is now your turn to create your own bucket list. Take a moment to think of, perhaps even write down, the things that you would love to do. Would you like to swim with the dolphins or go zip lining above the rain forest canopies? Would you like to see your art in a gallery or your writing published? Have you always wanted to visit the highlands of Scotland or try some tequila in Mexico? The world is your oyster and it is up to you to find those pearls worth documenting in your memory, worth photographing so that you can look back through the albums later on. 

There are always reasons not to do something, obstacles stopping you, but the experiences are usually worth putting forth an effort to find solutions and ways around the obstacles. I’ve had to work anywhere from one to four, sometimes even five part time jobs at a time in order to put money away for my bucket list items and every single time was worth it in some way or another. I’ve had amazing adventures and met some truly amazing people! 

We could die at the ripe old age of 94, or we could get hit by a bus tomorrow.  We don’t get to decide where the Grimm Reaper will catch up to us, but we can decide how many stories we get to share with him, or what kind of photos and stories will be shared at our funeral. 

Shout out to my wonderful, brave, and loving mother: Happy Mother’s Day mum! I may be a thorn in your ass some days but you still love the rose attached to it! 

Shout out to all those responsible for the memories and examples mentioned above, I hope you all know just how appreciated and treasured your friendship is. Love you all! 

Shout out to all of my Scotland friends! Scotland was the first thing I checked off my bucket list and I can’t wait to go back and visit everyone. Rebecca, don’t forget to have a poutine tonight!  

Hello and Hola to all my friends from Florida, Mexico, Jamaica and Costa Rica, hope you are all well! I love seeing your own bucket list adventures on Facebook.

I also can’t wait to see the wedding pictures posted by a certain happy couple whom I was fortunate enough to be roomed beside in Jamaica! Congratulations Bobbi and Jim! May your future together be a as beautiful as the soul you both share.

Have any fun bucket list items you have accomplished, or some day hope to check off? Share them in the comments below.  

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Cheers!

The Bra Street Rambler