Life & Pop Culture Experiences
My friend went to a taping of Ellen yesterday and was on TV today, dancing next to her. I was jealous (of the proximity, not the dancing). It made me think about the activities I’d like to experience at some point before I die, as well as the ones I already have.
I’m not trying to be morbid, but I am attempting to be a little less tightly wound, and adopt a carpe diem attitude. Recent back surgery forced me to contemplate/acknowledge my mortality for the first time, and I have made an effort to become more flexible (emotionally, mentally & physically) as a result. I simply need to relax, enjoy and appreciate life more than I have in the past (and for the future).
Most people keep lists of dream vacations. Me? Not so much. Here are a few random things I’d like to experience in my lifetime, in no particular order:
- Visit the set of Lost, or interview some of the cast
- Attend a taping of Ellen
- Throw out the first pitch at a major league ballpark
- Fly to Boston & Chicago for baseball games at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field
- See both REM and Bruce Springsteen live
- Watch the A’s win the World Series at home in the new stadium
- Go to the Emmy Awards
None of the above are career-related, but my dream job would be to either be on the writing staff of a television series or write a pop culture column for a newspaper or entertainment magazine. No big secret or surprise there.
I’m thrilled to have already had the opportunity to experience and participate in a few amazing events, including:
- Meeting Mary Lou Retton & attending the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles (I was a budding/failing gymnast at the time)
- Having coffee with Shawn Colvin in London before her show in 1993 (I was studying abroad, it was snowing outside, and she invited me in to watch rehearsal)
- Working as an ‘extra‘ on The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1994 (a story for another blog post altogether)
- Attending a private benefit honoring Ellen DeGeneres in 1998 for her groundbreaking coming out episode (and meeting the Indigo Girls)
- Being among the 73k fans watching the Women’s World Cup semi-finals at Stanford in 1999 (USA defeated Brazil)
- Hiking through the rain forest and cave-tubing in Belize
- Climbing to the top of the Duomo in Florence, Italy
- Seeing Barry Bonds hit #71 & #72 at PacBell Park in 2001, breaking the single-season homerun record (not a huge fan of the man, but it was electric in there)
- Watching The Incredibles and Cars at Pixar Animation Studios before they were released (both for events benefiting local education)
- Going to Sundance in 2007 (the coldest days of my life)
- Sitting in the front row of the bleachers at the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in SF (and not getting pummeled by large men attempting to dive for homerun balls)
- Attending the Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice benefit show earlier this year
This summer, I will be going to Comic-Con in San Diego, and I’m pretty sure that it will wind up on the list above.
I can’t believe that this entire post was inspired by a friend dancing onscreen with Ellen for three seconds, and I’m not sure I even had a point. Oh well. I know that my List of Things To Do Before I Die will be amended and updated shortly and often, because there are far more places I’d like to travel to and events I’d like to attend.
Thanks for reading yet another entry of rambling and lists. Good night!