I'm not being morbid. Well, okay, maybe I am.
But I'm watching my parents lose friends at an alarming rate. I'm watching my parents grow older. Actually they are considered elderly by most standards. It is frightening.
I turn 37 in a few weeks. I'm not old yet. And these are things I want to do before I die.
1) Parent a child.
If you've read this blog for 5 minutes you know this. Moving right along.
2) Publish my novels
Working on that.
3) Talk to a group of high school students as a published author.
When I was in High School Robert Kimmel Smith came to talk to us about writing. He said it was possible. I still believe him.
4) See Venice with my beloved.
I've always wanted to go to Italy. More Venice than Rome. Someday.
5) Speak and meet with my husband's birth family.
Note that he has little to no desire to do this. I on the other hand am curious as hell. I also think they would want to know that he's a good man.
6) Watch my nieces live up to their potential.
I have two amazing nieces by blood and one by love. They are so full of potential, I want to just see it and see what they make of themselves.
7) I'd like to see a woman take the presidential oath of office
This may surprise you, since I am quite the follower of Obama. However I really would like to see it in my lifetime.
8) Take a hens only trip
I'd like to drag one of my best friends and a few other of my best friend for a women only trip. Let the guys rough it for a bit.
9) Learn another language
I have a friend from High School who can speak over 10 languages fluently and he is "medically accurate" in another 8. (He's a doctor, so he does start learning languages with body parts and symptoms.) I envy that gift. I'd love to learn a language.
10) Learn how to play a stringed instrument
Well, I kinda know. I mean I can play the piano and it HAS strings. But I'd like to learn the guitar or the violin, or the cello. When I make up my mind of what I want to learn, I think I might actually go for lessons.
11) Learn Talmud
Talmud is a record of Jewish law. It contains the whys and WTFs of Jewish custom. You can't learn Talmud alone, you can only study it with another person. That's why I haven't learned it yet. I need to find people to study with who won't judge me for marrying a non-Jew.
12) Grow old with My husband.
Will I lose my dignity? Will someone care?
I don't want to outlive him. I want to be one of those old couples who travel during retirement. I want always to have him be the first thing I see when I wake.
13) Die quickly
I know, morbid much? But seriously. I want quick. No lingering Alzheimers or cancer or wasting disease. Quick. Then I will move on to the next great adventure. My grandma said that Death must be so neat because no one comes back to talk about it.
What do you want to do before you die?