Lahser High School Class of 2000 and My Life List of Things to Do

In just under 3 months the Lahser High School Class of 2000, including yours truly, will gather for our 10 year reunion.  Amazing, right?  This fact combined with a visit last week from an old friend whom I haven't spoken with since we graduated has me think lately about what I thought, at 18, my life would be like at 28.  In cleaning out Sean's art desk the other day I found my old sketch book/journal that spanned high school and college. In it are a few pages titled "Erin's Life List"--a "bucket list" of sorts, before they were called bucket lists, of things I would like to do in my lifetime.  Some of them I have accomplished, some will never be accomplished (meet Heath Ledger), and some seem completely irrelevant and not worth pursuing.  Here are some choice entries:

1. Go to Law School.  I think I always had Notre Dame in mind, but was too scared to put that goal on paper in case I didn't make it.  I'm so glad I did.

2. Get Married. Images of one's wedding and future husband are inevitable occupants of an 18-year old girl's mind.  When I was 18 I thought I would be married by now, sure.  I didn't imagine my husband to be as good looking as he is, and I didn't imagine him to be as thoughtful as he is.  Looking back ten years, this is definitely an area I can say i've lucked out in.  I'm always saying to Cody-- I always thought I would get married, i just never imagined it would be this good.  It is this good precisely because its real now--its not perfect--its messy and disorganized and chaotic at times, but it is full of the kind of life that comes with unconditional love, forgiveness, redemption and selflessness day after day.  And those are things you can't imagine when you're 18. (The picture is actually on our honeymoon- i can't seem to find the wedding picture folder on our computer!)

7. Teach High School.  Hasn't happened yet, and not likely to.  When people ask me if I intend to homeschool (a commone question in Catholic circles) my answer is often "I don't think my talents lie with teaching."  

10.  Meet the Pope.  I would love to.  Hasn't happened yet.

16.  Create Good Photo Albums.  Does a blog count? 

39. Ride Horses.  See previous entries about our trip to Costa Rica this year, where this was accomplished, on the beach :).

61. Own Cowboy boots.  Would still love to make this happen, but Denise beat me to it when she moved to Texas 2 years ago.  She looks really good in her cowboy boots. 

62. Own a pick up truck. Does "borrowing" one from your father in law for three years count? 

Some of my biggest accomplishments in the last ten years I never would have thought to put on my list. If I had they would be things like "Learn how to breastfeed," and correspondingly, "Breastfeed two huge babies," or "simultaneously breastfeed and bill hours."  And, "have a natural child birth," or "succesfully complete a VBAC."  And, "teach a 2 year old to poop in a toilet."  I wonder, will I be bragging about these accomplishments at our reunion in a few months? 

So, I was having a grand time looking at my List, and imagining the things I have accomplished that weren't on there, when I ran into this little doozie:

35.  Be in triathlon shape for 10th LHS reunion.  What?  Surely, I meant 20th reunion, right?  When I read this, about 100 excuses popped into my mind--- I was a lot younger when I wrote that.  I didn't know what it would be like to be ten years older--with jobs, children, laundry to do and bottles to clean.  I didn't think I would have had two children in the two years prior to the 10th reunion.  I didn't know I would be only a few months postpartum when it would be time to get in said triathlon shape.  I didn't know one of my pregnancies would make me anaphylactically allergic to exercise.  I was just wishfully thinking, there's no need to actually follow through with this goal, right?  There are other things on The List that I don't care about anymore-- like #25. "Date a Professional Baseball Player" (what???!!), or #43 "See Garth Brooks Live"--sure it would be cool, but I don't really feel obligated to actually do it.

So why does completing entry #35 nag at me more than a Garth Brooks concert?  Because I can do it, I just don't think I can??  But, why not?  Because of the jobs, children, laundry to be done and bottles in the sink, my very practical and tired self says.  But there's another little voice in me that says "why not?"  Why not just do it?  I know how to control the exercise allergy now, I'm far enough out from the births to be able to (vigorously) work out, and I'm not working full time anymore.  Plus, that beautiful little jogging stroller Cody gave me for Mother's Day-- why not?  Why not give the 18-year-old who wrote that the satisfaction of crossing it off the List?  Why not? 

So, with this newly resolved little voice in my head getting louder, I set off last night, after baby bedtimes, on a very nice 30 minute run-- probably the longest I've done in about 2 1/2 years due to the above mentioned pregnancies and consequences. I loved it.  My legs loved it (and are still feeling it today-- a feeling I've missed!). I don't think an actual triathlon is practical as I don't have anywhere to practice swimming, but I did find a 10K the first week in November.  That's a worthy substitution, I think.  So, in the interest of reunions, nostalgia, a few leftover baby pounds, and keeping promises to oneself, I am making a resolution to run longer, eat better, and work harder to make this happen. Its really scary to actually type these words, and publish them, nonetheless, but I will run the James Island Connector run in November and be in shape for the LHS reunion at Thanksgiving, and I will cross #35 off the List.  Who's with me?