In these solipsistic grips of twenty-something youth, it’s easy to forget that some people have real problems. Namely, the cold unflinching hand of death. Namely, stage 4 ovarian cancer.
One of my friends pointed me to the blog of this girl who was diagnosed with 6-12 months to live. 6 months equates to 182 days. So, in the spirit of “living the fuck out of life” she came up with a list of 50 things she wanted to do before…
As the page loaded and I waited to see her list, I instantly thought of my own mortal to-do list. Epic things sprung to mind:
- Write a NY Times bestseller
- Buy Mama an Aston Martin.
- Order everything on the menu at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach
- Marry a boy wearing Nantucket Reds. Learn to sail
- Call you and tell you how much I’ve always loved you, even though you’ll probably hang up on me.
But then the site opened and I saw the heartbreaking simplicity of her list.
- Swim with sharks
- Swim with dolphins
- Be treated like a celebrity for a day
- Go on tour with a band
- Go to Magic Mountain
- Go to Disneyland
- Hold a newborn baby
- Court side seat at a Suns game (go Suns!)
- Make out with James Franco
- Learn how to play “Here Comes the Sun” on guitar
- Do YOGA EVERY DAY
- Win a contest
- Toast at a wedding
- Learn to roll my R’s
- Go back to Spain
- Stay at the Shady Dell in Bisbee AZ
- Visit the Grand Canyon
- Invent a signature sauce (and have it bottled)
- Ride a horse (running speed)
- Try a food challenge at a restaurant
- Shave a design in my hair
- Register my body to donate to science
- Speak to a class
- Run a mile in 6 minutes
- Volunteer in a 3rd world country
- Learn to snowboard
- Learn to play Sweet Caroline on piano
- Get married in Vegas
- Eat at a 5 star restaurant
- Go to Coney Island
- Learn to make espresso art
- Learn Spanish (fluently)
- Drive a classic car
- Preferably the Ford Falcon I’ve wanted since I was 13
- Get neck and hand tattoos
- Skydive (again)
- Take a picture every day
- Write letters to family and friends
- Have sex on the beach
- Stay in a presidential suite at a hotel
- Surprise an old friend
- Have a family portrait
- Grow my own food
- Make beer
- Learn to knit
- Learn to juggle
- Pet a lion
- Pet an elephant
- Hold a koala
- Have a proper tea party
I have done #1, 2, certainly 3, definitely 4-6, HELLS YEAH 9 (actually, she ain’t missin’ much, trust me), 12-14, 23, have more or less done 25, 29 many times over, 30 (again, not missing much), 43 was boring, 45 I found to be a surprisingly stressful pastime (it’s the repetitive nature of it I think), but 47, 48 and 50 were all pretty rad.
Numbers, 7, 10, 16, and 22 just seem unsavory, I don’t even understand what 31 is, 35 would ruin my flawless beauty, 40 would be lonely without you, 46 would get me laid approximately ZERO times, but anyone who has accomplished 49 makes me seethe with Ranger Rick-fueled jealousy.
But all in all, I’ve done about 19 things on her list. A dying girl with no other goal in life has only checked off about 5 goals and I’ve done 19. Ninefuckingteen. I’m not saying this to brag–no, no, quite the opposite.
I’m ashamed of myself for sipping my white wine spritzers alone in front of my expensive wardrobe and crying because I’m not more famous. I’m ashamed for grumbling that my $5000 mattress is making my shoulder hurt. I’m ashamed for brooding when Mama doesn’t get me Restalyne injections for Christmas.
I am a silly, vain creature, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.