A form of bucket list...

Today my baby had her first day of Kindergarten.  Seriously.  MY.  BABY.

I know I only have two kids.

But.

My 10 year old started a new school.  It's called "Intermediate", but really?  It's middle school.  MIDDLE. SCHOOL.

I was almost in tears after putting Mia on the bus to Kindergarten, and I was driving past Olivia's school.  I mean, seriously?  There was a little more emotional than this mommy was prepared for.

Things like this have made me wonder about this life.  I'm just another mom, out there, watching as my kids grow older, and in turn, I grow older and so does everyone around me.  It makes me wonder - what's next?

I mean, I have a pretty good idea of what happens next for my kids (puberty, heartbreak, driving, independence, college).  But, what comes next for me?  What am I doing?

My kids don't need me as much any more, which is a really good thing.  But, the things I want to do (mostly involving travel) are still not kid friendly.  But really?  Am I just here to be my kids mom, guide them into adulthood?  I think I have so much more in me.  So, in that vein, I'm making a bucket list.  No - not a 'summer' bucket list, or a 'school year' bucket list.  This is a late 30's, 40's and 50's type of bucket list.

1. T.R.A.V.E.L.  I want to travel so bad!  I want to see NEW places, places that I've only seen in pictures.  I want to try new foods, hear accents, learn different cultures.  I'm dying to go to Europe - almost anywhere and everywhere in Europe.  And Canada.  And the Tropical Islands such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico.  And Hawaii.  And the entire Eastern Seaboard.  And the West Coast.  And many places in between.

2. I want to see shows.  Not movies, but theater and concerts.  Good plays, cheap concerts with good music.

3.  I'd like to find a cause.  Something I can really support.  I see my friends and the causes that they support, and I support many of those.  But my heart is in supporting women.  I want to do something to help women feel safer, be more equal with men, and not be told by a government what they can and can't do with their bodies.  

4. I want to grow into a fit, hot old lady.  I want to keep running, keep finding new exercises to keep my body strong.

5. I want to write.  I want to write better, and more often.  I'm thinking about challenging myself to find a good writing prompt for next year.  And by 'prompt', I mean weekly challenges, just like we do with photos, but to find one that will challenge my writing.  Sometimes I feel as if I hide behind my pictures and don't really practice my writing, get my feelings out, unravel my mind and emotions.

OK.  I think 5 is good for a bucket list right now.  Although, if I don't think I can cross most of these things off of a list.  These are the things I want to do more and more and more.

What would be on your bucket list?

P.s. I had a picture of mine published in this article.  It's a picture of Mia, loving the summer light coming in through the window, waiting for us to go outside.  Check it out here.