Let me start out by saying I feel so fortunate and blessed that we have had the opportunity to see as much of this incredible planet as we have. I get overwhelmed sometimes when I think back on places we have been and experiences we have had.
Truly I am grateful!
But, YES, I still have places on my bucket list. Currently the top 10 in no particular order are:
- Antarctica
2. Train or road trip through Austria, especially Halstatt
3. Tokyo, Japan
4. Ethiopia
5. Egypt
6. Jordan
7. Israel
8. Cinque Terra plus the boot of Italy (road trip, top to bottom)
9. The Amazon
10. Some of the “Stans“
And as a bonus: Gorilla trekking
Editors Note: The pictures in todays post are not mine and have been credited to the appropriate photographer when known.
What’s still on your Bucket List?? Please share in comments…
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am of course grateful for all that we have already seen, that the world is getting closer to kicking COVID to the curb, and that it will not be too much longer before we are able to start ticking some more places off of our long and diversified list.
P.S. On a personal note. Some of you may remember that I am taking a publishing course, and am working on writing a couple of books. One of them is of course travel related. A step in the course, is to start and grow a Facebook Group on the topic. Getting my travel group up and running was a no-brainer, and I am grateful that some of you have already joined us. In case you have not, and are curious to see what we are sharing there, you can simply click this link.
Other than writing a travel book, my first full length book will be under a pen name, as I learn more of the “ropes”, so to speak. It is on a challenging subject, and much more intense than the lighthearted travel subjects found here on my blog. I decided to write about Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
As our population ages, the number of people being diagnosed with this insidious disease is skyrocketing. And more and more of us are being placed in the position of being a caregiver for our loves ones.
This is a project that is dear to me, but also heart-wrenching. In 2012, Tim and I welcomed my mother into our home to care for her as she battled both Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer.
I was one of the lucky ones, as my sister played an active roll in mom’s care, setting up legal documents, and eventually taking over the roll of executor of her estate. A close friend stayed with her for a weekend to give us a much needed get-a-way. Mom lost her battle in early 2013, and we sold our home to travel later that year.
To honor her, to learn more, and to be of service, I decided to created a Facebook Group called Alzheimers: A to Z. It is brand new. The intro describes the group as:
“Perhaps you have a loved one who you suspect is showing signs of mental decline and you are not sure where to start getting the answers and support you need. Or, you have been in a caregiving role for a while, are exhausted, and in need of some emotional support from others who have already walked in your shoes. Or, you want to keep updated on the latest research and advances in the medical world trying to find a cure for this horrendous disease. If this sounds like you, then WELCOME, our community is here to help and support you.”
I’m looking for new members that fit into any of those categories, and/or have already been down this road and could offer up love, support and encouragement to those who are just beginning their journey. If this sounds like you, or you know someone who might benefit from this information, please consider joining this fledgling group. Alzheimers: A to Z
Thank you.
A Note From Abroad 
Sorry to hear of the current challenge in your life. A dear friend of mine is at early onset. She is the sweetest person and it is so difficult to observe.
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Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia are brutal. It was one of the most challenging times, watching my mother slip away. I’m grateful that I had the support of family and friends, while sadly so many are facing this task on their own. I’m sorry that your friend has early onset. Please join our group for information and support if it feels right to you. We would love to have you.
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Thanks!
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Taking care of elderly parents is one of the most stressful blessings (and while at times it doesn’t seem like a blessing, it really is) that one may be called to do. Been there, done that and hope that our kids took notice as they may be called upon to do the same. Tomorrow we pay our respects to a friend who just passed this weekend following her battle with dementia.
We love to travel and will tick off three of your destinations (once the world reopens) in the coming 9 months (Hallstatt and Austria, Israel, and Jordan). Next year well we’ll attend my number 1 bucket list item, the Passion Play in Oberammergau. As one comes off the bucket list, miraculously another appears. Such is life.
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I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. I agree that taking care of my mother was a blessing. Rough at times, but I am so thankful for the time we had together. I had hoped to go to the Passion Play in Oberammergau in 2020. I first learned about it before the 1980 presentation and have been interested ever since. And yes, isn’t that the truth, one off the list is quickly replaced 🙂
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Good luck with your writing endeavours. Both projects sound worthy.
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Thank you Darlene. Some days the writing is all-consuming, and other days I struggle to get to it.
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Top 10 Places Still On My Bucket List
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Thank you for sharing!
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The very best of luck and good health in your travels. Husband and I have done our fair share, but nothing on the scale of yours. We’re both English and have also lived briefly in Wales and Canada and are now retired in Spain. It’s a fascinating planet we share! The best of good fortune in your writing endeavours too.. My husband has written a Memoir (A Life Worth Living) and I wrote a Memoir of my life as an evacuee in WW2 (My Gentle War) and eight other books. Have fun! Cheers. x (https:/joylennick.wordpress.com/.
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Joy, thank you for your good wishes. Your writing experience has far exceeded mine. I am especially curious to learn more about you being an evacuee and will have to check out your book. Also, I love that you have lived in several different countries. Although we have been fortunate to have visited many, we have never put down roots anywhere else but here in the USA.
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These are all beautiful places! I hear the Amazon is disappearing so maybe go sooner rather than later? Best of luck on your writing projects.
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Kim, we were on a trip a couple of years ago to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador that was supposed to take us into the Amazon for a few days. Sadly, my husband got ill and we had to come home early. We hope to return in the not-to-distant future.
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Joanne,
You and Tim were placed here on this earth to do exactly what you are doing.
The world continues to be a better place because of people like you.
I will silently raise my next glass of wine and wish you continued health. (Brenda agrees with me.)
Steve Thompson
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That is so, so sweet of you to say. Thank you. I think an even better suggestion, is that before too much longer, we get together and share a bottle of wine, drinking to a wonderful friendship. ❤
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I hope you are able to check all of these off your bucket list!
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Thank you! I hope so too, but it certainly won’t be this year.
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Good luck on your book project. So far our family has not had to deal with this debilitating disease, so I can’t add anything that would be helpful.
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Thank you. The writing is coming along, but very slowly.
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