Erin’s Bucket List

Erin’s Bucket List

A while back (as in two years ago), when I wrote about our trip to Chicago, I mentioned my and Steven’s bucket lists, but I didn’t share them.

It’s true that once upon a time we sat down and wrote one together. However, in the two years and two moves since, I have no idea where it is at. So I’ve decided to write a new one.

It’s such a blog cliche. The whole bucket list thing. Just like the “year-in-reviews” at the end of each year. But whatever. I happen to love both of those things.

I’ve given this a lot of thought, but I’m sure it will change. It would be fun to revisit this every few years and make adjustments. That’s probably not really the point. But I’m also a bit of a different person than I was five years ago. And I’ll probably be a bit of a different person five years from now. I’m sure a lot of this list will stay the same. But some of it will probably change.

So, in no particular order, I present MAH BUCKET LIST, YO.

Write and publish a book
Spend (at least) two weeks in Europe
Visit all U.S. national parks (heh, there’s 58)
Be a parent
Take my kids to Disney World
~~Run a half-marathon~~ (read more here)
Travel to San Francisco
Travel to Maine
Earn an advanced degree
Be an aunt
Run a marathon
Compete in a triathlon
~~Meet Elizabeth Warren~~ (!!!!!! read more here)
Meet Anna Quindlen
Own a home
~~See The Lion King on Broadway~~ (did this when I visited NYC in 2011!)
Earn a placement medal in a race
Visit Alaska
See the northern lights
Become a contributor to an online progressive publication
Explore my family tree
- Interview/write about a long lost relative
Maintain my ideal weight
Go snorkeling
~~Travel to Chicago~~ (read all about it here)

Go skiing
Go parasailing
Completely surprise my husband
Fly in a hot air balloon
Buy a stranger’s food or drink behind me in line
Watch the sun rise
Witness a solar eclipse
Plant a garden (and successfully grow things!)
Become a real wine drinker. Like, know about wines.
Visit all 50 states
~~Swim with dolphins~~ (did this on our honeymoon!)
Be someone’s maid of honor
Volunteer at a hospice
Try out vegetarianism for a month
Practice meditation
~~Travel to New York City~~ (read a little about it here)

~~Whole-heartedly and completely apologize to someone I have hurt in the past~~ (I have done this, and it was really hard….but 100% worth it. I should never consider this “checked off and done” though. There will alway be a need for it.)
Forgive someone who has hurt me in the past — let go of that grudge!
Fly first class
Go on a cruise with my family (ok, so I’ve been on one…but it was in middle school! I’d love to go with my husband and the kids we hope to have someday)
Create meaningful societal change (very vague….but not sure how to define this right now)
Cultivate a connection with someone of a different race, background and/or upbringing than me
Dine out at a restaurant we can’t afford (I’ll never get Steven to go for this one!)
Play hooky with my husband for a day
Host Thanksgiving dinner
Bake bread from scratch
Go camping
Teach a child to ride a bike