Bucket List

The term bucket list has been around for quite some time, and I have slowly warmed to the concept.  It is essentially a list of experiences or achievements a person desires to accomplish during their lifetime.  My personal list has changed drastically over the years to include fewer "pipe dreams" and replaced with more realistic goals.  Due to age and the never-improving finances, I have stopped seeking advanced degrees and the childhood dream of a career in historical archeaology.  (Please don't think this is giving up on life.  Sometimes I simply need to quit beating my head against the wall of reality.)  As I shift my goals, I continue to gain personal richness through other measures.  This year alone, I have been able to mark off quite a few items on my personal bucket list.  In March I was able to visit Cedar Hill State Park for the very first time.  Since the initial visit, I have become a frequent visitor.  From the First Day of Spring Hike to a lecture on saving mountain lions, I travel out to the park about once a month to take in the outdoors and the many events hosted by the park rangers.  Enjoying God's creation does wonders for my overall health.  In May I purchased a ticket to see the Frisco Rough Riders play the Corpus Christi Hooks in an AA-baseball game.  The experience was good, and I have no doubt I'll make many more visits to the area again.  The final experience was attending Shakespeare in the Park in Dallas.  Living in Houston for over twelve years, I would attend Shakespeare plays at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Herman Park.  Missing this cultural experience, I longed for another such venue to continue my passion for theatre and the arts.  Finding another similar set up in Dallas, I knew yours truly had to check it out.  Not sure what took me so long to find this place, but it was a blessing to have done so.  The play featured on last Saturday evening's playbill was The Tempest.  The two directors gave a pre-show lecture, along with a question-and-answer forum afterward, concerning the history of the play.  Then I had the privilege of watching a wonderful rendition of Shakespeare.  One of the volunteer ambassadors also made me feel extremely welcomed and elicited the desire to come back for more.  I'm not sure what other bucket list items I will get to check off this year.  Hopefully there will be many more to come.

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