Hope and dreams...

Yesterday's post got me thinking about bucket lists and the hopes and dreams I've had over time.

Some are reasonable; some probably not so much.

A couple simply aren't happening.

Even so, they have been and are mine to reflect on and strive for.

So here goes, in no particular order (other than the first four)...

My Bucket List now and from days gone past...

**Completed items in bold.

Marry my soul mate & the love of my life.
Travel to Italy.
Live at the beach.
Tour the US east coast by car.
Visit New York City.
Own & operate a Bed & Breakfast.
Ride in a hot air balloon.
Take my parents on a trip they'll love.
Be the best Mimi there can be.
Live in a great apartment.
Travel to all 50 United States.
Visit the wine country.
Become a gourmet cook.
Snorkel.
Own our dream home.
See the Vatican.
See a game at Fenway Park.
Remodel and design our house to fit us just right.
See a broadway show.
Expose the young people in my life to as much travel, culture and diversity as I can.
Be a prayer warrior.
Own a convertible.
Visit San Francisco.
Obtain and maintain a healthy weight.
Have a tree house.
Ride through Central Park in a horse drawn carriage.
Visit Savannah.
Become a philanthropist.
Go sailing.
Swim in a natural body of water complete with water fall.
Create a blog.
Visit New Orleans.
Walk barefoot on the beach.
Be a mentor.
Have a lake house.
Travel to Greece.
Own a boat.
Plant a tree to celebrate the birth of a child.
Attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Create holiday traditions.
See the Golden Gate Bridge.
Travel to France.
Hang out with my Mom in Playa.
Travel to Easter Island.
Travel to Mexico.
Become proficient at yoga.
See the Eagles in concert.
Have a house with a fountain in the back yard.
Attend worship services on a regular basis.
See Barbra Striesand in concert.
Have a Maltese.
Buy myself a Rolex before I'm 40. (I failed at this one!)
Visit the carribean islands (St Croix, St Thomas & St Maarten).
Visit Seattle.
Start the business of my dreams and it be successful.
See George Strait in concert.
Become proficient at floral design.
Be debt free.
See KISS in concert.
Learn to speak a 2nd language.
Visit Vancouver.
See the French Riviera.
Visit Maine.
Fly first class on an international flight.
See Springsteen in concert.
Become proficient at furniture refinishing.
See the Amalfi Coast.
Visit Boston.
Visit the Florida Keys.
Spend time in the mountains.
Be a volunteer.
Swim with the dolphins.
Knit a scarf.
Have a successful career.
See a game at Yankee Stadium.

And there it is - as of today.

It and I have changed over the years.

One thing seems constant though; my middle name has always been go-go-go!

There's a great big world out there and I want to see and experience as much of it as I can during my God-given time on this earth.

Do you have a list?

If not, I suggest you make one.

Remembering the things I've checked off and contemplating those that may someday be brings a smile to my heart and reminds me; it's a beautiful life.

E 'una bella vita...

Before I ever heard the term bucket list I had one; I just didn't know there was a name for it.

My list has evolved over the years but one thing has never changed; it has always involved travel.

I've been blessed to see some amazing places over the past few years and have checked several destinations off the list.

My dream of seeing NYC has come true not only once but three times. 

I've seen the California wine country and some breath-taking Mexican beaches.

I've traveled the streets of San Francisco and done the Duval crawl in Key West, Florida.

I've marveled over snow-capped mountains in the US Pacific Northwest and the Canadian city of Vancouver BC.

I've seen twenty-two of the fifty United States.  My bucket list includes seeing them all.  I'm almost half way there.

At the top of my travel list has always been Italy, and in a dream come true, The Señor and I will be touring the Italian countryside in just a few short weeks.

I don't believe I've never been as excited about anything!

I've been trying to master a few phrases in Italiano, studying maps and brushing up on a little history.

We look forward to touring Italy's nooks and crannies while partaking of each regions food and wine.

We will tour museums, the Vatican and take a gondola ride.

We'll toss pennies in fountains, eat gelato and spend time hanging around piazzas simply watching the world go by.  After all, Questo è il modo di vivere italiano and E 'una bella vita!

Until next time, arrivederci!