Thirty Things

Some landmark, previously obscured by hazy expectation, is drawing near. So for lots of reasons that seem different than the cliches (but probably aren't) I want to mark this moment - because now is as good a time as any to start the rest of my life.

The Full and Complete List

One
Visit one city I have never been to before

Two
Be by the sea. A lot
(once so far)

Three
Take three friends out to lunch

Four
Join a group I'm passionate about

Five
Walk five miles of country road

Six
Make six beautiful things

Seven
Go seven days completely unplugged and off the grid (in your own house)

Eight
Compliment eight strangers

Nine
Hold a baby

Ten
Do ten cartwheels

Eleven
Read eleven books I've always been curious about

Twelve
Send postcards to twelve people

Thirteen
Grow a wildflower garden

Fourteen
Eat off of pretty things as often as possible (buying cheap mismatched china to make this happen is allowed)

Fifteen
Write a really good short story

Sixteen
Barbecue and picnic sixteen times this summer
(5 down...)

Seventeen
Paint the house a color you love

Eighteen
Bite the bullet, and do that super secret project you are embarrassed to admit

Nineteen
Build a bonfire

Twenty
Learn to make twenty new recipes
(three down, addendum: Beer Butt Chicken was a spectacular start)

Twenty One
Learn to sail

Twenty Two
Play on a swing set and remember how awesome it is

Twenty Three
Sing in public, just once, and see how it goes

Twenty Four
Create twenty four sweets and send them to someone you love

Twenty Five
Wave at twenty five people riding by on the bus

Twenty Six
Get rid of twenty six articles of clothing

Twenty Seven
Go on a road trip

Twenty Eight
Go twenty eight days without sugar or bread of any sort

Twenty Nine
Learn twenty nine words in another language

Thirty
Have a midnight Carpe Diem, just for you