Bucket List

When I was a teenager I had never heard of the term, “Bucket List.” But now it’s a catch phrase. Russ and I never really made a bucket list for our lives together, but of course, there were things we wanted to do in our lifetime.  Now after 45+ years of marriage, we are finding things we’ve done that should have been on a bucket list.  So here’s our list after-the-fact. Those with *’s were actually things we planned to do at some point in our lives – they were actually on our bucket list. But the others are things that we just happen to get to do and had not consciously made a plan to do in the future. Looking back, we’re so grateful for all these adventures together and hope there are still a few more surprises for us in the future. 

 

 

*1) Toured Europe (we visited 9 countries)

 2)  Visited England

 3)  Traveled to all 50 states together

*4) Vacationed in Hawaii

*5) Took Alaskan Cruise

 6)  Attended a presidential National Convention

 7)  Spent two weeks in China

 8)  Spent 12 days in Israel

 9)  Attended the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade

10) Vacationed in Mexico

11) Visited many Civil War sights, including Gettysburg

12) Went to both Disneyland and Disneyworld

13) Attended a live taping of Live with Kelly and Michael show

*14) Visited Church History sights: Nauvoo, Palmyra, Kirtland  – several times

*15) Went back to Argentina, where Russ served his mission (trip given to us by our children)

 16) Had dinner with the president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 17) Had members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles sleep in our guest room

 

 

I’m sure there are more I could add to this list, but this is what I’ve come up with today.  And we are actually quite content.  Perhaps there are a few more surprises in the future, and we have got one more official “bucket list” item: visit Australia/New Zealand. But already our bucket is full and has far surpassed what we ever imagined.  What’s on your bucket list?

Hawaii, September, 1981 - Sharlene by banana tree

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France - with our tour group - March 1987

July, 1997 - Sharlene and Russ at Carthage Jail

Jerusalem, October, 1997

Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

 

Dinner with a prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie - March, 1997

 

View of Margerie Glacier as seen from our Alaskan cruise ship - June, 2001

Sitting on the red couch with the newly-adopted granddaughter - Sept. 2004

September 20, 2004 - Gotcha Day - Julie, Claire, Sharlene, Russ - Chongqing China

Sharlene in front of the Pink House, Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2006, October

October, 2006 - Russ in center of Playa de Mayo in Buenos Aires
 



Sharlene & Russ on the set of Kelly and Michael in NYC - Oct. 2012