THE BUCKET LIST

 My bucket list is a combination of places to see and things to do in

America.  I love this country and all it has to offer.  

Vermont in Autumn 

  I've always heard that Vermont is the most beautiful in fall.  Our

family used to go to Gatlinburg, TN for the fall leaves.  Two years 

ago I did the same trip.  It was as beautiful as I remembered, but

as a photographer I couldn't imagine how great Vermont is 

going to be.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

 I've watched the parade every year since childhood.  The marching 

bands,  Broadway Showcases, guest entertainers, the banter of the

commentators, and of course, Santa.  I love everything.  I also love

the smell of turkey in the oven  while the parade is on T.V.

This has been a 30 year tradition.  In the past, with Mama and Daddy,

it was a day for setting out the Christmas decorations.  Mama didn't

do turkey, we went to our grandparents.  I remember begging Daddy

to let me see Santa at the end of the parade before I'd come out to help.

Napa Valley

It's not about the grapes or the wine.  It's about the movies I've seen

about the valley.  2004's "Sideways"  and 2008's "Bottle Shock"

introduced me to the "wine culture".  I'm not a wine drinker other

than White Zinfandel.  My first glass was in New York City after

seeing "Steel Magnolia's"  off Broadway.  It was in a quaint corner

restaurant with glass paned windows,  white eyelet curtains and

 lighting that would make even Tommy Lee Jones look good.

That was my first glass experience.  My first bottle experience was

Strawberry Boones Farm with a screw cap.

New Year's Eve, New York City

I've always wanted to be there.  I like the energy and the excitement 

of the tradition.  Now that I'm older, that excitement has been 

replaced with panic.  If I did get to go, what do I do when I do

have to "go".  I don't recall seeing any Port A Potty's on T.V.

Hmmmmmm...

Yosemite, CA

I've been to several National Parks and would like to add Yosemite.

I've been lucky with my cross country trips.  I've always made it a

point to stop whenever I came across any places of interest.  

Graceland, the Grand Canyon, the Hearst Castle, were all drive-by's.

I have a lot of books on Ansel Adams, gifted by my step-brother, Steve.

The photographs are black and white.  It would be great to experience

those images in color.  

Sundance Film Festival, Utah

I like the story of Robert Redford.  While making films, he bought property

in Colorado, but realized he couldn't expand.  He then bought property in

Utah and his vision became Sundance, as in "Butch Cassidy and the

Sundance Kid".  A portion of every movie he made back then went to 

Sundance.  I love movies, I love winter, and I love Redford.

What a combination!

New England

I've always been attracted to Coastal Towns.  Boat docks, shingled

homes, and lighthouses in places like Cape Cod, Nantucket,  and 

Martha's Vineyard.  I'd like to experience seafood in a restaurant 

and seeing all of these things looking out of the window.  I love

Ina Garten's "Barefoot Contessa", a cooking show.  Her shopping 

trips to town and homes that she visits captures the feel of those places.

Albuquerque Balloon Festival, New Mexico

I had my first experience with a Hot Air Balloon at Helen, GA in the 70's.

You got on, went up (tethered), then down for $5.00.  I came close to

seeing the real thing at the New Mexico festival on my way back from

Hawaii.  We couldn't get in the venue because we had our 2 dogs with us.

You could still see, but it was like watching a drive-in movie from a hill

outside the fence.  

Niagara Falls

Just because and why not?  People going over in barrels, a honeymoon

destination, a commercial about deck waterproofing, and that famous

walk by Marilyn Monroe in the movie of the same name, "Niagara". 

No matter what the reason, it's there and should be seen.

Surf Boarding

How could anyone live in Hawaii and not surf.  You can't see, but my

hand is raised.  Biggest regret.  When you live and work in Paradise,

time and money, as in any life, anywhere, is a factor.  When my son

came to live with me in Hawaii I got him a surf board.  We lived in an

apartment with the surf board, bikes, etc.,  piled up in a corner.  It wasn't

like the movie "Blue Crush" where you grabbed from a dozen surf and

boogie boards outside of your house and ran across your lawn to the 

waiting surf.  You got in a car, went to a number of beaches, any of which

could be "flat", and ended up riding in your car more than riding "the surf".

George Clooney's character described living in Paradise best in 

"The Descendants".  If you've ever wondered what it would be like

to live in Hawaii, this film is the best at capturing the truth.  See it!

I may not have surfed, but I did belong to an Outrigger Canoe Club.  

Seeing where you live from offshore is mind boggling.  Especially to a 

girl from Georgia.  Maybe one day I'll get to see the island again riding 

in on my very own surf board.

2013

P.S. 

World regret .  Being in Venice, Italy and not doing the gondolas.

That's another story...