Every year, I hear about people making their New Year Resolutions. However, they are mostly things that people do not want to do. I on the other hand use this time to check a few things off of my bucket list. Why do I have a bucket list many ask me. Well I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), plus I am human. I know that I am not immortal and will die... eventually. Also, with the EDS, I have so much metal and plastic in my body that my children tease me and tell me that they will just take me to the recycling plant when I die, which should cover my funeral expenses... Any way, I do not want to live my life afraid of being in pain or broken. Truth is, I am always in pain and about once a month, I am dislocated or have broken something. So why should I live my life discouraged and crippled?
First.... Last years bucket list
1. Get out of a wheel chair and relearn to walk.... Was in wheel chair for 4 months, Was out on 2/10/2009.... Done (The rehab and learning how to walk again was tricky, but I got it done!
2.Walk in the Walk For life 10k..... done on 4/2/2009
3. Hike 50 trails..... Trail number 50 completed 11/1/2009
4. Cliff jump 100ft.... Done, many times over the fourth of July weekend, what a blast, only cost me a dislocated shoulder
Now this year, money and joints permitting....
1. Tandem Skydive.... the jump and fall should be a piece of cake, the landing might be a little tricky.
2. Hike another 50 trails.... advance from medium to hard
3. Learn to play tennis.... with my physical limitations, friend has suggest playing doubles with me in front... we see how it goes, but I want to play in one competition match.
4. Go to Alaska and watch the whales, not so sure on cost, but going to give it one heck of a try!!!
4. See if I can give my orthopedic a heart attack when he asks about my bucket list (smile)... last year he threatened to disown me
Happy New Year to all of you, and I hope you have atleast one thing that you want to do on your list. Life is short!!!
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I love the idea of a bucket list instead of new year's resolutions.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends is an avid skydiver, she's had over 100 solo jumps. From what she's told me, I would recommend wearing ankle and knee braces as a precaution if you do go up.
On my list of things I need to do at least once is going to the mountain my dad and I used to go to every summer. There are ice caves in it. I've never been able to get past the point called "The Chimney" and I want to do it so badly. Ever since my dad passed away it's been my goal. The problem is with EDS I'm usually broken in July and August, which are about the only months you can go to the ice caves. It doesn't help that about 10 years ago there was a fatality there (drunk people with no cell phones should NOT be mountain climbing) and since then they've made it an additional 10km hike just to get to the base of the mountain.
I hope your body and bank account are kind to you this year!
I do hope my body and bank account can handle the year:) Bilateral knee replacements, right hip replacement, left hand has 4 metal plates one over each metacarpal, left femur metal rod, right femur metal plate (might be the other way around:) and the list goes on and on (smile)
ReplyDeleteThe main reason I want to go sky diving is because when I was little I always told my mother I was going to do it. She would always say over her dead body. It became a running joke when ever we would talk. Well she past away in 2000, and I intend to keep my promise to her. She was cremated and I plan on Sky diving with her ashes...(so, it really will be over her dead body). Might end up in hell for that one:) I will be wearing braces, my ortho knows of my plans and has two requests. 1. I do it the weekend he is on call. 2. I wear the braces that he fits me with.
Good luck on your hike... You can do! Hopefully your body will be kind to you as well.
I also love the idea of bucketlist...i really should work on that =) And props to you for accomplishing yours last year!
ReplyDeleteI plan to sky dive this summer when i graduate nursing school... My best injuries usually are when i'm stone sober and doing something very mundane, so i think i'll be okay injury wise...tho my best friend told me "i think you'll be fine jumping out of the plane and landing...but ur gunna break something when ur walking back to ur car!" =)