"The Bucket List"

"The Bucket List"

Have you seen this movie? I just saw it last night. What an amazing movie. Life is way too short, isn't it? If you have seen the movie, this blog might make more sense, but if you haven't, I will try not to give away too many parts. I do highly recommend you see it though. I don't think it is any secret that the movie is about two dying men who are informed that they have just months to live. They are two men who would never interact in life, if it weren't for the circumstance that brings them together. When faced with death, they discover aspects of their life that need attention before they move on to the unknown. "The Bucket List" is about creating a list of things you absolutely must do before you kick the bucket. Great idea! While discussing our "Bucket Lists" over dinner my wife and I realized ours were pretty lame. Make a million dollars and lose 10 lbs just doesn't seem to cut the mustard anymore.

Are we really supposed to work forty to seventy hours per week, for forty years, and then live off of a half of what we are used to living on? Are we really supposed to pay one third of our salaries to drop our kids off with strangers, allow them to raise our children while we take care of "business" for the next twelve hours? Have we been brainwashed? I know I was. Things just don't add up. There is so much abundance out there. We just have to be open to receive it.

I feel passionate about living life. There is definitely room for improvement. I could get better about appreciating the little things, and there are so many things yet to encounter on my "Bucket List". Unfortunately recent events in my life have put those valuable lessons on the forefront of my priority list.

This summer my wife's dad, Ted, was diagnosed with Cancer. The Big C. I'm looking at the yellow band on my right wrist. "Live Strong!" Ted was diagnosed and given about 3 months to live. Carcinoma of an unknown Primary. In layman's terms that means they had no clue where the source of the cancer originated. That makes it a lot harder to treat, since you can't target a specific region of the body. Ted started Chemo and I insisted he come stay with us. The doctors said the chances of success were like throwing a stick in the wind. Ted consulted with family and they decided he should at least give it a shot.

His first treatment almost killed him. Ted decided that he did not want to go through that again. My wife and her sister wanted him to fight it of course. It took some time, but they soon realized the inevitable. Ted and I were somewhat buddies, but we became REALLY close throughout this process. From diagnosis to Ted's death was about three months. It was quick. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to be with him while my wife was at work. I am so grateful for that. What a stressful time for the family. I will spare you the details, but I am so glad that my wife did not have to experience some of the more vulnerable moments Ted endured. At one point Ted could no longer communicate verbally. He motioned that he wanted to sit up and I tried to lift him up, but he resisted. He did not want to sit up. He wanted to squeeze my hand to thank me. I'm tearing up as I write this. The point is those two months were horrible, incredible, memorable, forgettable...but there was a huge lesson. I can not believe he is gone. Life is too short. We went from sharing a beer, to a late night call with his diagnosis, to memorial service in three short months. Ted lived a life worth writing a movie about. My wife and I would frequently call Ted to hang on our date night. He was a really great guy.

I used to work my fifty hour work week, while living for the weekend. Monday Night Football, Tuesday Night "American Idol", go to the bar on Wednesday night, Happy Hour on Friday, College Football on Saturday, more football on Sunday then curl up on the couch in the fetal position on Sunday afternoon about 5PM to watch Sunday evening Television. Why was I in the fetal position you ask? Probably because the thought of facing the stress of the week would give me chest pains. Livin Strong! Woo Hoo!

There is more to life and "The Bucket List" reminds us of priorities. Enjoy the movie and let me know what's on your "bucket List"

Nick Logan

www.nicklogan.tv

Nick Logan

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