My Bucket List....so far

I have my bucket list of things I want to do before I leave this life. I want to see all 50 states (46, so far!) and I want to see all the great American iconic places. Also on the list are things I want to do. I'm doing great so far.

I've stood at the foot of Mount Rushmore and the giant redwoods. I've been to the top of the Empire State Building, the Washington Monument, and the Space Needle. I've seen the Jefferson Memorial at sunset and Broadway at midnight. I've driven across the Rockies, the Appalachians, the Ozarks, the White Mountains, the Sierra Nevadas, the Green Mountains, and several others. I've driven through the Everglades and the Badlands. I've driven past wheat fields, cotton fields, deserts, lakes and forests. I've driven in cities of all sizes. I've been down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I've followed Lewis and Clark's trail. I've driven along the Pacific Coast, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and over the overseas highway to Key West. I've crossed the US border to the north and to the south.

I've walked the Golden Gate Bridge. I've walked across Hoover Dam. I've stood beside Niagra Falls. I've ridden a horse along the Pacific Coast. I've been in both US oceans and the Gulf, as well as numerous major lakes. I've walked across the headwaters of the Mississippi River, cruised up and down it in a paddlewheel steamboat, and have been down to the end of it in Louisiana. I have watched a glacier calving. I've ridden the Staten Island Ferry. I've snorkeled in the Caribbean. I've gone parasailing. I've seen sea lions and otters in California, dolphins in the gulf, and whales in Alaska.

I've ridden on planes of all sizes (including an antique biplane), a helicopter, and even an AC130U Air Force gunship. I've ridden on cruise ships in the Caribbean and Alaska. I've ridden the subway in Atlanta, Washington DC, and Toronto. I've been on a long passenger train trip and some shorter ones. I've been on a long Greyhound bus trip. I've ridden the cable cars in San Francisco and the trollies in New Orleans. I've ridden on motorcycles, canoes, go carts, buses, kayaks, motorboats, New York taxis, catamarans, and bicycles...even one built for two.

I've toured Rock City, the White House, Alcatraz, the Hearst Castle, the Library of Congress, the Grand Ole Opry, Arlington Cemetery, Churchill Downs, the San Diego Zoo, the Smithsonians, Mayan Ruins, and Yosemite. I've been drinking on Bourbon Street. I've been gambling in Las Vegas. I've shopped at the Mall of America. I've been on Good Morning America. I've seen the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I've watched a Broadway show. I've been to the concerts of famous musicians. I've been to a pro football game and a pro baseball game. I've played in the snow and I've played a calliope. I've been down in Mammoth Cave and up on Stone Mountain. I've held Micky Mantle's bat. I've strolled through Boston Commons, Golden Gate Park, and Central Park. I've seen the Hollywood sign. I've ridden a lap around the Indianapolis Speedway. I've sat in the Supreme Court.

I've toured the factories where iconic American brand goods are made--Tabasco Sauce, Louisville Sluggers, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Napa Valley wines, Cabbage Patch dolls and Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon. I've eaten lobster in Maine, chowder in Boston, beignets in New Orleans, pizza in Chicago, salmon in Alaska and crab cakes in Baltimore. I bought a cowboy hat in Texas, cowboy boots in Wyoming, and gold in the Black Hills. I've shopped in China Town. I've toured the homes of many great Americans--Helen Keller, Robert Frost, Norman Rockwell, and Thomas Edison. I've been from the capital of the Confederacy to the Lincoln Memorial. I've been on all the roller coasters in Disney World and to all of the parks there.

I've seen the destruction of Mount St. Helens. I've been in an earthquake. I've been in the eye of a hurricane. I've been too close to a tornado.

So, what's left?  Well, just today, I bathed in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Later this week I'm going up in the St. Louis Arch. Tonight, I am in my 46th state. Still, my bucket list will not be complete. I have 4 more states to visit and a host of things left to do.

I want to see the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, the Painted Desert,  and the Great Salt Lake.  I want to tour Hershey Pennsylvania, Amish country, Yellowstone Park, and the US Capitol Building. I want to ride an airboat. I want to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rose Parade. I want to see the Oklahoma City Memorial, the 9/11 memorial, and Pearl Harbor. I want to snow ski. I want to go up in the Statue of Liberty. I want to see the fall leaves in New England. I want to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I want to eat a Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia and see the Liberty Bell while I am there.

See? There's plenty left to do. And, heck, that's just North America! After that...on to Europe!