Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.” ~Robert H. Schuller

My family and I were just saying the other day “remember at the beginning of quarantining and self-isolation and how we thought how awesome it would be to not have to go anywhere or do anything that required too much effort (like getting dressed)? How we thought it was going to be such a special time for families – an opportunity to slow down and get back to the basics of life and re-defining priorities? A time where families would be able to have dinner together and teach their children how to do some of the basics like laundry and cooking?  Well, that was 5 months ago and while a lot of good things have come out of it for me personally, it has become a bit tedious and tiresome if I’m going to be honest. Now, I do believe those things have happened for some people, there are many others who have faced even tougher times than before COVID.  Even though our province in Canada has moved to Phase 3 of restarting, my family and I are still sticking close to home, wearing masks if we do go out and keeping our circle of contact low due to our compromised immune systems and because well………we aren’t assho&%s who have no concern for who we may infect with COVID or any other life altering illness while being asymptomatic or oblivious to the fact that we may be carrying it unknowingly.

But, one thing that self-isolation has done for me is give me some time to think about advice we all have been given:

You only live once…
Life is short…
Live your life to the fullest…

Isn’t that what we hear all the time? And while these are cliché’s, 99.9% of us don’t heed that advice.  Am I the only one thinking about that kind of stuff while sitting at home over these past 5 months?

I’ve always been of the mindset that it’s never too late to learn something new or do the things you haven’t had the courage, time or resources to do, but now I’m thinking…..until it is.  As I wrote in my last post, I was going through some yucky stuff with my MS and the difference between this week and the last 5, is mind boggling to me and with the relief has come the ability to think about other stuff again, instead of focusing on what was going on physically.  When you are going through stuff with a chronic illness, you kind of just put your nose down, your bum up and you do what you have to do to get through it. Can I get a hell ya on that one?  So now that I am feeling better, I ask myself why haven’t I taken up that hobby or learned that new skill or made a plan to make my bucket list items a reality?  Why (especially since I have not been working) haven’t I just searched out someone who could help me learn?  Someone who can help me with a plan. It’s not like the things on my list are scary or even difficult so the only reason I can come up with is that I have been inherently lazy. You never know when the chance is going to pass you by completely, if I’ve learned anything during this pandemic, it is that time is fleeting (even if you have a lot of time on your hands like I do).

Before I give you my current list, I thought I could share a little list of things I have no intention of doing………EVER!

Skydiving

Fly a plane

Run a marathon

Fly in a hot air balloon

Trek to Everest Base Camp

Dive with sharks

Become a snake whisperer

Now that you know what’s NOT going to happen, here is my list of what I WOULD like to do, learn or see in the foreseeable future.  It is a never ending work in progress, often altered, updated and refreshed and it goes without saying that the “go to’s” want to be “gone to” with my soulmate, you know who you are babe.

• Learn more all around canning skills – Like canning, pickling and making jam. I started to try my hand at canning last year, but I have A LOT to learn yet.  Luckily, my mother in law has imparted some of her knowledge and wisdom to me and also gave me an old book that she has used to help guide her with cooking processes and times, etc. Thanks mom!
• Take an African safari – I would love to see a lion in the wild safely in an enclosed truck with a guide with protection…..you know, just in case.  Not the Disney World safari, been there, done that. Although I enjoyed it thoroughly, I think it’s not quite the same.
• Perfect my pie crust and other baking skills – I finally think I have the hang of sourdough bread making but need to devote some time to the whole pastry making thing.  Preferably without gaining 100 pounds.
• Go hang gliding – I know you are probably thinking – what? It is not okay to jump out of a plane, but it is ok to pretend you are a bird and run and fling yourself off the edge of a cliff. I know, it doesn’t make sense to me either, yet I have been wanting to do that for 10 years or more.
• It may be a cliché but I would like to swim with the dolphins – Doesn’t everyone want to do that? And not at Sea World, real dolphins in the middle of the ocean.
• Go to Greece – there is something about the white buildings, contrasting with the blue sky and sea that sets my heart on fire. And since we will be there anyway, we may as well visit the volcano in Santorini. Maybe it was Mamma Mia that started this desire, but I can tell you, as soon as safe travel is allowed, I would like to set forth a plan to make this dream into a reality.
• Learn to upcycle furniture – you know, make shabby chic’ out of just plain shabby?
• Zip line across the jungle pr rain forest in Costa Rica – doesn’t everyone?
• Go to a Garth Brooks concert – This has been on my list for a very long time and I am so excited to hear that he (and my old buddy Blake S) will be playing at Cheyenne Frontier Days and you can be sure that I will be there.  I’ve missed more than one opportunity to see him live and I don’t want to wait any longer and neither of us are getting any younger.
• Get a tattoo – just a small inconspicuous one and as soon as I get my courage up, I’m going to take the plunge and make an appointment!
• Learn calligraphy – for all the fancy canning, pasta and baking goods I will be making (when I learn how to do that).
• Go to Nashville Tennessee and sit my ass down at the Bluebird Café and wait for the next big country star to step on the stage.
• Watch the sun both rise and set from a rocking chair on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
• Learn how to use photo shop – while Photoshop is an important tool if you want to work in graphic or web design, I just would like it to enhance the photo’s that my fancy shmancy new Iphone takes. Does anyone know if there is an online freebie to teach you the basics?
• Own a place on the lake that is off grid, no power, no running water and definitely no cell service. And while my husband and I did the off grid part just after we got married and moved to what is now a ghost town, I am in a much better head space to embrace that lifestyle now. An additional place where my family can make some new memories. A place that is comforting and safe for anyone who pops by for a swim.
• Learn how to back up a trailer – I don’t know what it is, but my brain just doesn’t compute how to turn the wheels to back the trailer without jackknifing it.
• Have a professional makeover – you know the kind of makeover where you don’t have lines or wrinkles, I don’t even know if there is such a thing, but if there is, I would like to do that just once.  And after that makeover, I might as well save it for posterity by having a professional photo shoot.
• Learn how to make fresh pasta – even though it doesn’t fit in with our eating plan at the moment, it is an art I would like to master.

There is my list for now – I know it will never be finished because I’m constantly adding to it and updating it as I see fit or something strikes my fancy (and there is also this thing called cash flow that will ned to be figured out, but how could you hear someone tell you about zip lining over the jungle in Costa Rica and then not want to do it?!  The world is my oyster, it is an incredible place and there is so much out there for each of us to do and see. What is on your list? Better yet, what is something you’ve done that you don’t think I should miss out on?  The time to think of it is now!

Ok,  onto something I do know how to do and that is getting in the kitchen to whip up both some simple and more difficult dishes – and this yummy little recipe will be sure to have you invited to all the neighbourhood potlucks (that is, whenever that kind of stuff is allowed to happen again).  This Holy Moly Guacamole is the best and easiest recipe I know of and you won’t believe how easy and creamy it is!