Tomorrow would have been my husband’s 51st birthday, had we not lost him in 2019.  Thinking about his birthday, as well as Mother’s Day on Sunday, it really took my mind to things that he and I never got to do together.  And things that I know he’d have never, ever done on a bet (however, he’d have sent me off with a friend and stayed home with the kids).

So, what’s on my bucket list?

First, if you haven’t heard this song by Mitchell Tenpenny, you should give it a listen.  He’s one of my favorites right now and this song is just so good.

I’ve lived a pretty quiet, uneventful life. One that hasn’t included much traveling outside of a couple of cross country moves as a child and teen.  Last year, I did manage to achieve a couple of list items.  First, I was able to be in the path of totality for the solar eclipse last April.  Which was one of the most amazing and awe-inspiring things I’ve ever experienced.  After that, I left the US for the first time, ever, and visited Montreal.  It was also a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to see more of Canada eventually.

Last year, I also finally made it to the Utah Shakespeare Festival, something I think everyone should experience at least once.  My friend and I also visited Bryce Canyon while we were there, which is gorgeous, even in the rain.  But the biggest part of this was that I drove my first actual road trip!  Prior to August, I’d always been the passenger.

What do I have planned for the future?

On a small scale, I’m finally getting to see Kenny Chesney in concert later this month.  I’m really excited about this because my friend is a huge Kenny fan.  It’s also her birthday, so we’ll be double celebrating.

I’d love to visit New Zealand and Australia.  As long as nothing horrible happens between now and next year, it looks like I will actually get to go to New Zealand at least.  But Australia is still on the list!

Out of the blue one day, my late husband made a suggestion that surprised me.  He said that every year, on or around Halloween, there’s a dinner party at Bran Castle, aka Dracula’s Castle, in Romania.  What surprised me was how willing he sounded to make the actual trip.  We didn’t make it, but this is high on my list of things to do before it’s too late.

A more achievable, less crazy trip I want to make is to Chicago.  Despite having been born in Illinois, I’ve never made it to Chicago.  And, as a lifelong Cubs fan, a day game at Wrigley has long been on my bucket list.  I’m sad that I never got to Wrigley while Harry Carey was still alive, but I did get to hear him sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the Astrodome in Houston back in the late ‘80’s.  Which was… an experience… to say the least.

There are more things I’d love to go and see and do, but I think this is enough for one post.  What about you?  What are some things you’d like to experience in the next few years?