Many of us have retired or are getting close ... and we can think about doing all those things we always really wanted to do but never had the time or opportunity,  In early August of 2010 my colleagues and I were parked in the band hall of the local junior high school because our new school was not ready for us.  While our prinicipals were with us, we toed the line.  One morning they all left for a meeting and pandemonium ensued.  It was started by our school counselor, Marlene, who was extremely depressed at the thought of starting another school year.  (What do counselors do when they are depressed?  Counsel themselves?)  Anyway, Marlene started our discussion of what we REALLY would like to be doing.  She announced that it was her secret ambition to be a UPS driver ... to wear that cute little brown uniform and drive around in a UPS truck all day.  As for me, I want to work in a zoo.  Preparing those little paper trays full of food and going around feeding the porcupines, raccoons and anteaters.  Or the tiger cubs.  I have visited several tiger sanctuaries and been able to hold and attempt to cuddle some tiger cubs.  Tiger cubs don't like cuddling and feel like stiff brushes.  But I tried anyway.  I would also like to learn to play polo and conduct a symphony orchestra in a performance of Phantom.

So what does everyone REALLY want to do?  (Now keep it clean!  No pole dancing or Chip 'N Dales.)

Well, Other than always wanting the body where I could work for Chip N Dales, and being able to do a few good moves on a pole, ….. I guess that really there are several things I want to do as I approach retirement/grown up age.

I have always enjoyed music.  As I kid, my mother played the piano, and she enrolled me in piano lessons 3 times, and I even took guitar lessons once.  I always seemed to give up on the piano (one of my biggest regrets now!) and I moved my interest over into the bass guitar.  I played in a small band as a freshman in high school and we played several "gigs" during the summer between our freshman and sophomore year.  We even played in the school talent show I think during our freshman year.  (I do hope that everyone has forgotten that performance by now.) But I have always enjoyed playing the guitar, and would love to actually learn to play the piano as an adult.  I just need to work on my discipline and how it applies to my hobbies I guess.

Also as a kid my dad was an aircraft mechanic, so I was always at the airport as youngster.  You may or may not remember but back in the day at the San Antonio Main Airport Terminal, you could walk out on an outside balcony to watch your family and friends take off if you wanted to.  I always used to go out there and I believed I was witnessing a miracle every-time one of those big (at the time) planes took off and got airborne.  I could not comprehend how something that weighed over 100,000 pounds to get airborne and fly!  I now know some of the physics of how that is accomplished, but even after all these years, and watching thousands of takeoffs as an Air Traffic Controller, I would still feel that wonder when I watched these plane take off.  It was not until sometime in my 30's that I discovered that my Dad actually had a pilot's license.  He never took any of us kids up for a flight ever, so I was amazed when I found out he could fly. So, I would love to get my pilots license.  That is really s double edged sword when I say that, because every time that I have gotten in a small single engine aircraft, I've gotten sick.  I have terrible motion sickness.  I have only had like 2 mild episodes in the larger Airline style planes, but every time in a small plane I have suffered.  Out on the ocean on boats, and ships I have suffered.  I was on a cruise in 2008 and I was fine, but I worked on a cruise ship right after college that went up into Glacier Bay in Alaska, and coming down the California coast I got sick.  It was terrible!  I know that we have numerous classmates that have been or are still pilots and believe me; I envy each and every one of them.  I would love to do that, and I still may try.  But after having to clean up the cockpit after I have "lost my lunch" a couple of times I may have to just always wish on that one.

Another thing I want to do is play a fairly good game of golf, just once!  I started playing golf in high school with Hu Rhodes.  I was terrible and I have not improved that much after all these years.  Of course there have been a couple of long breaks in playing over the years but I do enjoy playing the game and I have improved some but I have yet to have a score under 100.  I have had good holes and even a couple of good holes, even a good 9 holes, but I have never scored under 100 on 18 holes of golf.  I was close and on the brink, but on hole 18,  I shot a 10!  A fricking 10!!!!  I could not believe it!  I was so disappointed!  So, I plan to work on my golf game.  I plan to retire from all forms of "work" by the end of next year 2012.  I will make improving my golf game one of my goals.  I will break 100 and be excited!  If I can break 90 I will be overjoyed!

Lastly, in the last few years I have had the opportunity to do some traveling and I have enjoyed it a great deal.  In 2004 I took my very first trip to Mexico (which I really enjoyed and have gone back numerous times), and since then I have had to opportunity to travel to the Greek Isles, Egypt, Turkey, and had a once in a life time chance to go to Africa.  I have enjoyed all these trips immensely.  I will soon have a trip to Israel that I am looking forward to a great deal.  I still want to go to Ireland my families' ancestral homeland, and take a trip to Australia.  I would also like to visit Spain, and explore Europe more.  I hope to be able to do that, and maybe take a trip up to the NE part of the U.S., as I have had very limited time in that area over the years. Plus, since I love to ride my motorcycle, I would love to take more long trips on the bike!  I have always enjoyed those as well; I just hope my butt can take the punishment!  Ha!!  "Bucket lists" they are a great thing to have!!  J