a long list

When I was a freshman in college, I created two lists.

The first is somewhat of a bucket-list. It's all the things I want to do or accomplish before I turn 30 years old.

Why not a standard 'things to do before I die' list? Well, logistically my priorities and desires will change quite drastically over my life (i'm just guessing about each 10 years) and didn't want to create something I wouldn't be excited about finishing down the road. I might put something on the list now that won't be important to me once I have a career or kids, etc.

And since there's an expiration date on my list, it gives me incentive to stop dreaming and actually do them! A few are silly, a few are serious, and a few may never get done.

Already completed:
4) Live/ Study abroad in France
10) Perform another dance (at Ashton Cup at SPU)
22) Run a marathon (October 2010 in Portland)

I have to say, I'm not super strict about my list... I add things every once and a while and for the first time, I'm erasing something because it's obviously not meant to be!

Number 25 says: See the 20 most beautiful libraries in the world.

(Yes, there's an official list: http://www.oddee.com/item_96527.aspx)

If you know me well, you know I absolutely love books and have reverence for most bookstores and libraries (that would explain my love of Borders, Powell's,and Shakespeare&Co). So of course it makes sense that I would want to see the 20 most beautiful libraries.

While I was planning my Europe trip, I made sure to write down each of the libraries which would be on our way. And if everything had gone ACCORDING TO PLAN, I would have crossed off five, an entire 1/4, by this December.

However, I gave up on it. At our first stop in Dublin, the library was closed...not to mention it cost 9 euros for each person just to walk inside. In Amsterdam, the library has been closed for a few years worth of renovations. Dillon and I went on a wild goose chase and found the make-shift library in a small set of cubicles. Around this point I realized that a tour of libraries might leave me disappointed haha.

The second list I created is of all the cool things I've done. I wanted to remember all of the adventures and crazy things in the "in-between". I'll leave you with some of those:
13) Swim with Hammerheads
20) Eat escargot
29) Go to a bull fight
42) Testify in a court case
59) See Big Ben and British Parliament

One's a list of things to look forward to and the other is things to smile back on.

Currently listening to Little Hell by City and Colour

xoxo
Caitlin
caitlinboyd72@gmail.com