Perchance have you seen MTV’s new show The Buried Life? I almost wrote it off as another MTV Real World/Jersey Shore reality train wreck, but I’m glad I didn’t let preconceived notions rob me of a really a great show. Here’s the blurb:

The Buried Life is “The true life story of four regular guys on a mission to complete a list of ’100 Things To Do Before You Die’ and to help and encourage others to go after their own lists.”

Yes, the majority of the tasks on their list are typical of 20-something guys: attend a party at the Playboy mansion (pleeeease…  ); ask out the girl of your dreams – Megan Fox (insert eye roll here….  ) but what redeems them (besides the fact that they’re funny and all pretty easy to watch) is for each thing they attempt to accomplish on their list, they help a stranger accomplish something on theirs. Darn it, that part of the show always makes me get a little teary.

If nothing else, the show has made me think about what I want to accomplish. Writing and raising a family can be all-consuming. Lately, it seems I don’t do much beyond writing and family.  I’ve never made a Bucket List – not even after seeing the movie. Somehow, it seemed like a countdown to death, and I have so much more life to live. But The Buried Life got me thinking: What would I like to do? What would I like to accomplish beyond writing and family… ? Things just for me. So, I’ve started jotting down notions as they come to me. Some things are beyond my control, other tasks on my list are going to take a while to accomplish. I guess I’d better get started…even though I don’t plan on “leaving” anytime soon.

Here are ten things from my list – not in any particular order of importance. Actually, it’s my entire list right now. Hey, it’s a work in progress. And I’m discovering I’m kinda picky about what I add …

1. Climb Mt. Hood. (Mt. Hood, OR)
2. Hit the NY Times List
3. See my daughter become a grandmother (see, this proves I plan on sticking around for a while)
4. Live in Paris for at least consecutive three months
5. Write (a minimum of) 200 books
6. Go for a hot air balloon ride
7. Learn to play the cello
8. Visit all 50 states (and do something memorable – not just an airport layover)
9. Sleep in a castle
10. Trace my family’s roots

So, what about you? As they ask on The Buried Life, “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?”

The Family They Chose

By Nancy Robards THompson

Available February 2010