Last week I saw Jimmy Buffett in concert for the first time! It was great. My dad was dressed in the brightest shirt he could find, but unfortunately I did not get the chance to dress as I’d have liked because it is so cold here! I had a jacket instead. It was just one big party. The song that I was looking forward to hearing the most (Fins) was played last! It was a great end to such an awesome experience. Fins is such a happy song, and so interactive! I am so happy to say that I can cross #51 off my bucket list!
#51 (Jimmy Buffett)
My fifty-first goal on my bucket list is to see Jimmy Buffett in concert. You got it, I’m a young parrothead! I grew up hearing Jimmy Buffett songs as lullubies, and he was the only artist I knew well until I started to look up music on my own. Well, this is a goal that I didn’t think I’d be completing anytime soon, but Jimmy Buffett is coming to my town in the coming months, and I am so pumped! Needless to say, I will be blogging about the whole experience. Sadly, I do not live in Southern California–I hear the Jimmy Buffett concerts are the best down there. My parents are big fans as well and they said some people would even bring sand to fill the parking lot up to make it a faux-beach! My favorite song by him is not one of his most popular, but my dad would sing it to me when I was young…enjoy!
Talking to Salesclerks
I’m one of those people who always has to be doing something. Like, anything. For example, my doctors appointment was cancelled yesterday, which made me super bummed because I didn’t know what to do with myself. So, as any girl would do, I went shopping. The problem I have with shopping, being an introvert, is that the salesclerks always try to talk to you! So, when I go to stores I avoid employees at all costs. Yesterday, much to my chagrin, I did happen to get into a conversation with an owner of a small bookstore I walked into. I mean, in all honesty, the conversation could have been much worse judging by the deal I am making out of it. So, it started with me asking for a book recommendation (I actually mustered up the courage to ask him a question!) After I had gotten a thorough recommendation from him–I will soon be reading O Pioneer! by Willa Cather–I asked if he had a trash can t0 that I could throw my drink away in. He jumped up, grabbed my drink and said, “Oh no, I will be keeping this.” ( I was so confused). He went on, “Next time I commit a crime I must leave your DNA at the scene!”…what? He was joking (I readily assumed) but no laughter came out of him–or me–after he said that. Well, I think I have learned my lesson: I should not talk to strangers–being the twenty year old child I am.
#31 (Books) –Recommendations?
My Bucket List’s thirty-first goal is to read as many Pulitzer Prize and NBA award winners as I can. I haven’t read all that many, probably about six. I guess I’ll be doing this one for a while, but I’ll check it off at some point! I’d like to hear recommendations–which books do you think are the best you’ve ever read? Feel free to recommend any that haven’t won a Pulitzer or NBA too. Here’s what I’ve read off the lists:
Pulitzer
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Ironweed by William Kennedy
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
NBA
Three Junes by Julia Glass
Somebody Loved — The Weepies
This is my favorite song right now. It makes me cry every time, man! Every time!
Completing More Goals
#2– I am going to get my college degree in less than three years. Man, it will feel so good to check that one off the list!
#7– Experiencing a sunrise would be an easy one, except I’m on these meds that make me super tired. That will happen when it happens!
#31– I’ve already read some Pulitzer and NBA winners. I’m going to list them in a post some other time. I hope that I read many more than I have, though!
#34– Oasis…I may have to settle for Beady Eye…which isn’t a bad thing! But I grew up with Oasis, and I’d love to see them together rather than only some of the members play.
#51– Hopefully I will see Jimmy Buffett in concert next summer. My dad is a huge parrothead and I’m thinking we may all go as a family!
#53– I want to go to Florida to see my friend. I think I’ll need to save that one up for next summer as well!
#8 (Sunset)
I have, since writing the bucket list, seen many sunsets. The sunsets I saw in Aruba (while looking for the Green Flash) were gorgeous. Sadly, I did not see the Green Flash. My parents have seen the Green Flash three times, but they have spent months upon months in the Caribbean. So, my odds weren’t too good. The picture below looks so gray! So you’re going to have to trust me on this one–the sunsets were beautiful.
#6 (Community Service)
In January, I stared volunteering at a meal program near my college. At this program, no identification is necessary. This attracts many guests, as most people in situations like those of our guests don’t have ID’s; identification is usually one of the first things that gets stolen when living on the street. My favorite things about volunteering is being able to interact with the guests that attend the meals. Many of them are so thankful for the service the lunch provides. It’s not all fun-and-games, though. Preparing the meal on-time is hard work, and there are many rules that we as volunteers have to follow. For example, we generally cannot talk about ourselves with the guests. I assume this is for safety reasons but finding something else to direct attention to when a guest asks you a personal question is difficult. We also cannot touch any of the guests–not even to shake a hand or give a pat on the shoulder. This is because many of the guests could become uncomfortable with any physical contact. Despite these difficulties, I absolutely love volunteering that the meal program. It feels so good to see the positive outlook many of the guests have on life. So, I gladly say, I have completed–and am still completing–the sixth goal on my bucket list.
#4 (Painting)
One of my goals on my bucket list is to finish a painting that I actually like. I have completed that goal! I took a painting class at my college last year, and I finished a painting that made me think, “Eh, not too shabby!” I don’t know if I will pursue painting as a fun hobby further (because it frustrates me to no end) but I am very glad that I accomplished that goal.
It looks a bit cartoon-y but I actually liked that. My teacher said that this one was his least favorite, while this one I liked the most!
#18 (Scuba Diving)
I got certified to scuba about three months ago and I cannot get enough of it. I’ve been diving in Aruba and some places in the United States. The coolest things I’ve seen while diving are barracuda, sea turtles, plane and ship wrecks, large eels, lobster, and octopus. Most of these things I saw in Aruba. But that is not to say that diving in the ocean around the US is not cool as well!
Here’s some of the neat coral I saw in Aruba! It may seem bland, but I am uncomfortable to show most of the shots from the rest of the dive, as I am pictured in them. I like this photo because you can see how colorful the Caribbean wildlife is! All bundled together on one rock there is red, purple, green, and yellow soft coral.
Wallflower 