The Bucket List

The Bucket List 

There is this wonderful film “The Bucket List” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman which is, in my opinion, a must watch.

In fact, if you haven’t watched it as yet, stop doing whatever you are doing (that includes reading this piece) and go watch it!

The movie set me thinking about my Bucket List. It’s not as morbid as it sounds. You should try making one!

Ever since that thought struck me, I have been surfing the net for bucket lists.

“100 books you must read before you die.” I went through the list and found out that I had read just three! The Catcher in the Rye, To kill a mockingbird and The curious incident of the dog in the night time. The majority seemed like books that I’d rather die than read.

“100 greatest Hollywood movies”. The score was better on this list. Watched around 40%, and the other names did sound like movies that I would want to watch someday.

“100 Bollywood movies of all time”. My score was even better. Watched most of them.

“100 places to visit before you die.” A fantastic list of spectacular destinations.

Beaches, waterfalls, mountains, valleys, lakes, glaciers, volcanoes and man made structures. The pictures leave you spellbound, so I can imagine what an experience it must be to actually visit those places. My score was very low, but I would love to visit all that if possible.

The internet is full of lists. 100 wines, 100 restaurants, 100 football goals,100 experiences,100 dishes( the Masala Dosa figured in that one!) and so on.

I sat back, steepled my fingers, and thought for a moment. “The Bucket List”, a term given to the list of things to do before one kicks the bucket…

So I imagined myself, lying down on a bed. Old and frail. Staring at a rather strange looking bucket precariously perched at the edge of the footrest, so that even my feeble kick will knock it over.

What thoughts will be going on in my mind then? Will I be checking my bucket list of books or movies or places or experiences?

Somehow I couldn’t picture myself mumbling “Darn! I wish I had read ‘Les Miserables’” or “Shucks! How could I miss Citizen Kane?” or “I haven’t been to Machu Picchu, what a wasted life!”

Nyaah! I don’t think that would be on my mind at all.

I mean, I do believe in ‘Carpeing  the hell out of the Diem’, reading, watching movies, traveling and even Bungee jumping and making the most of my day.

But, I would rather make a Bucket List of family and friends that I would like to meet and be in touch with, so that my mind is filled with memories of all those cherished moments.

So go visit a friend, make that phone call, be in touch. Machu Picchu can wait.