things to do before i die

i find it interesting that our thoughts during the day are based upon a sequence of events during the previous or current day. what we read, what we see, what we're doing, etc. our dreams are affected by said events and well as our interactions with our spouses, friends, family, coworkers, strangers. try this on for size - 12 yr old tacoma girl update. after reading this story one can't help to feel, maybe just me, less hopeful of a positive outcome, thusly changing my mood and reactions towards others.

i cannot admit that it is a long lasting change, but there is a change in feeling nonetheless. another article i read in men's health did the same thing. to recap - a man goes in for surgery, goes into cardiac arrest, and reevaluates his "life goals." he uses examples such as having a belini at harry's bar to just keep drinking. it sounds glib, but i'm merely paraphrasing. the larger idea is that climbing peaks, having drinks at a bar hemingway used as a backdrop, reading proust - those are all superficial, all but inconquerable goals, while having a beer, fishing with grandpa or starting family traditions are the things that matter most in life.

the point i'm going for here is that this article is one of those "thought provokers." my approach to life today has been changed - even if it is merely for an afternoon. i've spent the better part of today evaluating and reevaluating what it is that i must do before i die. are there 5 things (only 5!) or are there 1,000 (how is that possible)? i really don't know.

time for a small tangent, which at the end should make sense, at least it does to me. satchel paige spoke to six "rules for staying young." it originally appeared in the june 13, 1953 issue of collier's. the version i am listing was taken from his autobiography.

1. avoid fried meats which angry up the blood
2. if your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts
3. keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move
4. go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society - the social ramble ain't restful
5. avoid running at all times
6. and don't look back - something might be gaining on you

he has a list. he, it seems, has an idea of what he needs to do before he dies. or at least to be able to enjoy life's experiences. this list was his response to how he remained young (he was 42 when he made it into the bigs because of a color barrier) while playing against kids half his age. somehow, i think, at least metaphorically, these "rules" can be adapted.

when i look back on my life when i'm 80, what will be the more rewarding accomplishment - the brotherly banter with my siblings on a holiday, or the fact that i was able to successfully learn 3 languages (not that this is what i'd like to do, just an example). i know that i'm not the type that will want to brag, to wax poetic about all my accomplishments in life. so what if i've climbed everest 100 times, does it mean anything if the people closest to me don't care? does it mean anything if i miss out on my child walking for the first time, my mother's surgery to remove her breast cancer, my grandfather calling me a cheater while playing cribbage?

yeah, probably not.

the laughter, the banter, the jokes, the tears, the heartache. those are the things that make memories. the events that bring those emotions are what i would classify under "things to do before i die." now, i need to make like satchel and figure out my list...