100 Things

I am lazy today. Once again. So, courtesy of a blog group member, I have the following list of possible accomplishments. Something about this feels like braggadocio, but it doesn't appear to be stopping me. I guess because I have not done *everything* on this list, so I can claim some humility.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you capitalize the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. STARTED YOUR OWN BLOG
2. SLEPT UNDER THE STARS
3. PLAYED IN A BAND
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. GIVEN MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD TO CHARITY
7. BEEN TO DISNEYLAND (does Disneyland Paris count? or Disneyworld in Orlando?)
8. Climbed a mountain (I've climed on a mountain - not really the same thing)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. SANG A SOLO
12. VISITED PARIS
13. Watched a lightening storm at sea
14. TAUGHT YOURSELF AN ART FROM SCRATCH
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (No regrets here)
17. WALKED TO THE TOP OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY (can't do it anymore!) (People have added that caveat, yet I have done it - twice - 1974 and 1992)
18. GROWN YOUR OWN VEGETABLES
19. SEEN THE MONA LISA IN FRANCE
20. SLEPT IN AN OVERNIGHT TRAIN
21. HAD A PILLOW FIGHT
22. Hitchhiked (Once again, no regrets ... though, do you count being picked up when you're stranded for car touble? Hmmm)
23. TAKEN A SICK DAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT ILL
24. BUILT A SNOW FORT
25. HELD A LAMB
26. GONE SKINNY DIPPING
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. SEEN A TOTAL ECLIPSE (SOLAR)
30. WATCHED A SUNRISE OR SUNSET
31. Hit a home run (does the Wii count?!?)
32. BEEN ON A CRUISE
33. SEEN NIAGRA FALLS IN PERSON
34. VISITED THE BIRTHPLACE OF YOUR ANCESTORS
35. SEEN AN AMISH COMMUNITY
36. TAUGHT YOURSELF A NEW LANGUAGE (well, I had the help of a tutor and textbook)
37. HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BE TRULY SATISFIED (It's cliché, but money is not everything)
38. SEEN THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA IN PERSON
39. GONE ROCK CLIMBING
40. SEEN MICHAELANGELO'S DAVID
41. SUNG KARAOKE
42. Seen Old Faithful Geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. VISITED AFRICA
45. WALKED ON A BEACH BY MOONLIGHT
46. Been transported in an ambulance (another non-regret)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. SEEN THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN PERSON
50. BEEN TO THE TOP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER IN PARIS
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkleing
52. KISSED IN THE RAIN
53. PLAYED IN THE MUD
55. Been in a movie (only the home variety)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. VISITED RUSSIA (I"ll do one better: It was the Soviet Union - can't do that anymore)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. SOLD GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
62. Gone whale watching
63. GOT FLOWERS FOR NO REASON
66. VISITED A NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP
67. BOUNCED A CHECK (well, we have overdraft, fortunately)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. SAVED A FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TOY
70. VISITED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
71. EATEN CAVIAR (interestingly, whoever typed this first misspelled caviar - wonder what that signifies)
72. PIECED A QUILT
73. STOOD IN TIMES SQUARE
74. Toured the Everglades
75. BEEN FIRED FROM A JOB
76. SEEN THE CHANGING OF THE GUARDS IN LONDON
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (and have no desire, to be honest)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (how sad is that? Though I did see Canyon de Chelly, which is, reportedly, just as lovely, just smaller)
80. Published a book
81. VISITED THE VATICAN
82. BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. HAD YOUR PICTURE IN THE NEWSPAPER
85. Read the entire Bible
86. VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (and once again, no desire)
88. HAD CHICKEN POX
89. Saved someone's life (I have taken care of my children for the past 17 years - does that count?
90. Sat on a jury
91. MET SOMEONE FAMOUS
92. JOINED A BOOK CLUB
93. LOST A LOVED ONE
94. HAD A BABY
95. SEEN THE ALAMO IN PERSON
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (another non-regret)
98. OWNED A CELL PHONE
99. BEEN STUNG BY A BEE
100. READ AN ENTIRE BOOK IN ONE DAY

These are strangely arbitrary. How about, marched on Washington? Volunteered for a political candidate? Stood up for something you believed in? Addressed a local governmental body on an issue, on the record? Confronted injustice in your community? Been a whistle-blower? Spent more than you should to attend a concert? Paid more than you should for a fabulous item of clothing? Sneaked a purchase into the house?

I didn't go back and count - no need, as I'm not keeping score. Not sure if this list is something to be proud of, or goals to which should aspire.

For now, it's just a little mental exercise on a cold Sunday morning.