one hundred things

...to do before I die. : )

1. dance until morning
2. hug a koala
3. get a real leather jacket
4. drive a convertible
5. get dipped while dancing
6. take a photo of a peacock
7. see a movie on opening night
8. set two people up
9. drive a dirtbike
10. wear a black dress and red heels
11. marry the love of my life
12. illustrate a children's book
13. ride a camel
14. have a blond child
15. learn Spanish fluently
16. go to Mexico
17. go to Mexico again
18. buy shoes in Paris
19. draw the Eiffel tower
20. ride an elephant
21. go to a pro basketball game
22. go to a pro football game
23. eat a donut in my wedding dress
24. learn to swim
25. ride a motorcycle with my man
26. slap a guy with good reason
27. go on a cruise with Beka
28. go on a mission trip to Mexico
29. go on a mission trip to Africa
30. adopt a baby from Africa
31. learn to blow bubbles
32. publish a book
33. get picked as a PW photo contest finalist
34. walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
35. get a pedicure
36. meet someone face-to-face that I met on blogger
37. memorize a book of the Bible
38. take a photo of a wild bald eagle
39. work at a pro-life center
40. see a play on Broadway
41. see Les Miserables performed live
42. stay up 24 hours
43. drink a martini
44. walk across the Millau Bridge (in France)
45. finally be able to raise my hand while listening to "Angel"
46. ride in a helicopter
47. go to Hawaii
48. get a manicure
49. buy a real vintage dress
50. go to New York City
51. go to Chicago
52. learn to tango
53. run a mile
54. save someone's life
55. learn a song in Spanish
56. get each of my fingernails painted a different color
57. ride a horse on the beach
58. eat an entire angel food cake
59. write my name on the Mediterranean beach
60. do ten push-ups at once
61. see The Messiah performed
62. wear the perfect red dress
63. take someone's engagement pictures
64. go to Mexico with Beka
65. sit next to my man on a bench seat in a pickup
66. get my face painted
67. ride in a hot air balloon
68. take a self-defense class
69. go to a circus
70. take pictures at a carnival at night
71. meet a celebrity
72. read Les Miserables
73. learn Italian
74. eat gelato in Italy
75. photograph a wedding
76. make a huge, authentic Mexican meal
77. take a roadtrip across (some of) America
78. go to a concert of one of my favorite singers
79. ride a motorcycle in Mexico with my man
80. go to Disneyworld
81. go to a Florida beach
82. buy a traditional Mexican dress
83. draw a portrait from life
84. go to Mexico with Hadley
85. watch a movie at a drive-in movie theater
86. actually live in another state/country for a time
87. drive a tractor
88. sing "LA Baby" with Hadley on the LA beach
89. kiss my man on a covered bridge
90. go to Mark Driscoll's church
91. draw a portrait of my man from memory
92. dance in the rain. like, actually dance, like with a partner
93. sell a piece of art
94. learn to tie a necktie
95. read War and Peace
96. see the Sistine Chapel
97. get real diamond stud earrings
98. go to a ballet (did this when I was six or something, but I don't remember it)
99. see someone I know personally get famous
100. shoot a big gun

one of the best days of my life

Going to the circus is on my bucket list, and I have always, always wanted to go. It's a natural, carved-in-my-soul desire, mainly owing to the fact that I watched Dumbo entirely too many times as a kid, and absolutely adored it. Especially the very beginning, when the tough, vaguely frightening men hammer tent pegs in the rain. I haven't seen it in a long, long time.

When I found out that the Jordan World Circus (all the way from Las Vegas) was coming to a town nearby, with a poster that said "lots of elephants!" I just had to go. I am crazy about elephants (again, Dumbo) and my current most-wishing-to-do-right-now thing on my bucket list is ride an elephant. With the knowledge that this might have to wait until I go to Thailand or something (which I am loathe to do).

We sat down on old wood bleachers, ate popcorn steadily and watched one of the best days of my life occur. It started out with the tigers. For my entire life, I have been deeply obsessed with big cats of all kinds. But lately the tiger calenders and photos plastered all over my wall have abated, and so I kind of forgot how awesome they were.

But that moment, my first love came rushing back. Total awe at their crazy-awesome power and contradictory grace, combined with the nearly uncontrollable urge to wrap my arms around their necks and cuddle them within an inch of their life. Plus there were three white tigers, which are rare, stunning, and my best friends. It really was all I could do to keep myself from climbing in there and kissing them all.

There were also camels. Mostly they ran around in complicated ways. And I wanted to ride them. 'Cuz that's on my bucket list, too.

During the intermission, they let everyone swarm all over. They brought out the face paint, the pony rides, the inflatable slide... and the elephants.

And then, be still my heart, they had elephant rides. I watched other people get to do it and was content enough, while also freaking out because I was this close to my dream. I mean, it was probably too expensive... I was wearing a skirt....

Then Bethany, beautiful sister-of-my-soul,

...bought me a ticket. Insert CRAZY SCREAMING HAPPY DANCE IN A LARGE CROWD.

And she said "go--live your dream". (quote from Tangled). Actually, she didn't, but if she had, it would have been hilarious.

So I squashed onto the elephant saddle thing behind the little girl with the pleasant-smelling shampoo, hoped that my skirt did not tear asunder, and was very, very happy. Two things checked off of my bucket list in one day!

There were thrilling gymnasts, tight-ropers, crazy daredevil motorcyclists in a round wire cage, and one not-too-horrifying clown. But the elephants and the tigers were quite enough to let me die entirely fulfilled.