The List

In July of this year, I turned 39. "I'm one year away from 40," I thought. And then I started evaluating my life and my lifestyle and thinking about whether or not I'm where I thought I'd be at this age, at this stage in my life. There are lots of things on my mental "list" of things to do before I die (don't call it a "Bucket List" or I'll puke), but most of those things involve travel - things I want to see, places I want to visit - sites to see before I'm too old and rickety to see them. Like the Hagia Sophia. I have to see that! (It's widely considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World and now my friend Anne lives in Istanbul! NO EXCUSES!)

Anyway, so I made a list. It's a shorter, more attainable inventory of little enjoyments that I can and would like to achieve before I turn 40 - a record of 40 items I've thought about again and again that I can be happy I finally did (or did again!) when my birthday rolls around again. So far, two months in, I've crossed five items off the list and several are in progress. Not too shabby!

1.   Finish a paint-by-numbers painting

2.   Take a class to learn to do something creative

3.   Paint the hallway

4.   Paint the walk-in closet The paint colors are selected, now to find the time for this MAJOR undertaking!

5.   Host a party at my house

6.   Meet and maintain my weight-loss goal I've lost 13 lbs. and I'm currently 10 lbs. away from goal

7.   Commit to going to the gym two times per week In progress and going strong!

8.   Go bowling

9.   Rent a boat for the day

10. Frame the Memphis/San Francisco postcards I've collected  Hung in my kitchen

11. Take a photo every day in progress, but moving slowly

12. Update my résumé

13. Re-pot my cactus garden

14. Visit my grandmother in California

15. Eat a banana to see if I still hate them Tastes change. Right?

16. Reduce my shoe collection to 40 pairs I couldn’t live without

17. Volunteer

18. Meet with a financial advisor

19. Go to the Memphis Farmers Market

20. Ride my bike

21. Read 10 books

22. Pay off credit card debt

23. Get a new tattoo The design is selected, but where do I want it?

24. Go to a cheese tasting

25. Write out a will

26. Ice skate or roller skate

27. Go to a dermatologist

28. Get a mammogram

29. Blow bubbles Completed on my front porch one evening while sipping champagne!

30. Wear a bikini in public

31. Wear sunscreen daily In progress

32. Take my vitamins In progress

33. Seriously evaluate creating a second source of income

34. Learn to apply false eyelashes

35. Write a love letter

36. Walk or run a 5k for charity

37. Ride a ferris wheel

38. Ride a roller coaster

39. Watch the rest of the “Best Picture” Oscar-winning films

40. Buy an original piece of art I chose a print of an original painting by a Portland artist that I love. Once framed, it'll go perfectly in the newly-painted (see # 4, above) closet.