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Today I’m taking a look at items sixteen through twenty on the list. With a name like, “100 Things to do before you die” you would think the list would be comprised of exciting, once in a lifetime events. Surprisingly, not so much.
Number sixteen on the list is “Brew your own beer”. I’m a firm believer in not trying to do something someone else is doing really, really well. Why would I brew my own beer when I can run down to the nearest convenience store and pick up a six pack that would most likely meet all my needs? I have to be upfront here, I’m not really a beer drinker. I guess I owe that to my strict religious upbringing. When I have a thirst that needs to be quenched I usually reach for a soda or water. Beer looks good but tastes like . . . . . well, I’d rather not say because then someone will ask how I know what that tastes like and suddenly I’m in a conversation I really don’t want to be in because I should have said it tastes like what I think something vile would taste like. So to clarify, I don’t like the taste.
Next on the list is “Learn to take a compliment”. Really? If I don’t learn to take a compliment what’s the worst that could happen? Someone might get their feelings hurt. All you really have to do is reply with thank you. It’s not rocket science and not something that will turn a person’s life around. Let’s face it, if you’re not saying thank you to a compliment you might have bigger problems. Possibly you’re just impolite or even a crabby person. Just try to be nice to the people who share your life. Trust me; things will go much smoother if you do.
Eighteen on the list is “Buy a round-the-world air ticket and a rucksack and run away. When I first read this one I believe I scratched my head and stared off into space. If I possessed unlimited funds and didn’t care what my family thought or felt then maybe this would be an option. I would be lying if I said the thought of running away never crossed my mind in the past. I’m sure everyone has felt that at one time or another. Most folks, however, let their common sense kick in and realize that’s not the answer. Besides that, I wouldn’t have enough money to buy a bus ticket to Cleveland.
Coming in at number nineteen on the list is “Grow a beard and leave it for at least a month”. I had a gym coach in high school that used to say, “If you leave something lay around long enough it will grow hair”. He was right. I’m sure every high school boy, at one time or another has tried to grow a beard. If their parents won’t allow it then they will do it after they leave home. I’ve had a mustache since the day I left high school and only shaved it once for a pesky mole removal. No it wasn’t the kind of mole that tears up your yard. I’ve also played around with beards of different shapes, a soul patch, Fu Manchu, and whatever the current facial hair craze might have been at the time. In other words, growing a beard is something done be almost every boy/man during their lifetimes.
Item number twenty is “Give your mother a dozen red roses and tell her you love her”. I’ve given my mom flowers before but never roses. Those flowers are reserved for my wife. I’ve always thought roses meant love for a spouse while any other flower would be fine for your mother. This may just be me but I don’t think I will ever purchase roses for my mother. I actually tell her I love her almost every day. This is probably the most important piece of this to-do item.
As you can tell from this group of five the list contains some very mundane items. In this group we’ve discussed beer, being nice to others when they compliment you, spending all your money on a plane ticket and abandoning your family, growing a beard, giving your mom flowers and telling her you love her. There’s only one way to spice up this group of five items. You must do all of them at the same time. So, the next time you grow a beard and someone compliments you don’t forget to say thanks just before you give your mom that bouquet of roses and tell her you love her. Then you can hop on that plane with your rucksack and head for Germany on your way around the world. While there you can learn to make world class beer that doesn’t taste like … well, you know.
Until I belly up to the laptop again, aloha.
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