At 3:00pm on November 12th, 2015, I lost my hero. The first man I ever loved, the man I measured all other men up against – my dad, he was 64 years old.
I was always grateful for the life I was born into, but I don’t think I valued it and every breath I took until I watched my dad take his last. Surely we had at least another twenty years with him? I never imagined that he would be gone by Christmas.
The days that followed dad’s passing were surreal. I felt I was handling things well and found myself consoling other people, reassuring them that we were okay and that dad is where he wants to be. Little did I know that when people returned to their normal functioning lives and their mood lifted as the festive season approached, that my mood would plummet and suddenly I felt like I had lost my right arm.Dad hailed from humble beginnings. Having emigrated from Italy to Australia when he was just eight years old, he met his father for the first time who had arrived ahead of the family to set up a home. Dad worked hard to get himself through University and established himself as a Pharmacist; a profession he worked at for 35 years. During this time he became an important part of the community. I never once heard him complain or resent the life he had. He knew what he wanted in life and how to achieve it. I like to think that is a trait I inherited from him.
My wonderful hubby took the kids out one evening so I could have some quiet time to myself. I was feeling particularly low that day as I contemplated the difficulty of moving forward in life without dad. Without warning, while lying on my bed, I felt an intense warmth as the light of the sun spilled from behind the clouds and in through the bedroom window. It was 6pm and I recall thinking that this burst of sunlight was somehow different; far too bright for this time of the evening. I turned toward it; still lying on the bed. I was immediately bathed in an indescribable sense of calm. I knew it was dad. I could almost feel his big bear hug and hear him whisper to me, “You can do this”. The following morning, I awoke so comforted and determined. While he was alive, I was amazed at dad’s faith and sense of peace. He was never afraid of dying because he knew two things. One was that he was going to a better place but the other was that life is what you make it. There’s no time for regrets or sorrows. It was in this moment that I resolved to take charge of my life and compile a Bucket List.
After losing dad at 64 years of age, and realising there were so many more things he wanted to do and that life really does need to be ‘lived’ everyday, I decided to set myself this little challenge.I have a list of 64 things I would like to achieve before I turn 64 years of age, in honour of my dad (for those that want to know, I am now 37 years old). I’m hoping that some wonderful people may help me along the way to complete this list; I have already ticked off 18 Bucket List items. I will keep you all updated of my progress via my blog posts! I leave you now with what my dad liked to refer to as ‘a little pearl of wisdom’……
‘If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello’
~ Paulo Coehlo
BUCKET LIST
- Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Get a tattoo
- Go to Paris and make it to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- Sleep in a treehouse
- Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- Hunt a monster i.e. Dracula, Nessie
- Sleep in a castle
- See Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
- Take part in a Japanese Tea Ceremony in Japan
- Experience a white Christmas
- Learn a different language – French
- Face a fear
- Go on a safari through the Serengeti
- Win a big competition
- Jump in a pool fully clothed
- Ride a horse on the beach
- Buy a pair of Christian Louboutin Shoes
- Go ice skating in Central Park, New York
- Visit Japan during Cherry Blossom season
- Stand on Audrey Hepburn’s Star on the Walk of Fame
- Colour my hair pink
- Sleep out under the stars
- Write and publish a book
- Ride a camel
- Climb a mountain
- See Roxette in concert
- Ride a gondola in Venice
- Appear on television
- Do an overnight trip on a train
- Watch the sunrise on the beach
- Fall in love
- Have a family
- Travel business class
- Listen to the Dalai Lama speak live
- Visit Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi
- Shop at a German Christmas market
- Stay in a Tuscan villa
- Stand in front of the Taj Mahal
- Travel down the Loire Valley
- Watch a show at the Moulin Rouge
- Visit Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- See the Great Barrier Reef
- Stand at the top of the Burj Khalifa, Dubai
- See Ayers Rock
- Walk the Great Wall of China
- Visit Highclere Castle from Downton Abbey
- Do High Tea at The Ritz
- Drive the Great Ocean Road
- Do a movie marathon
- Eat at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant ‘The Fat Duck”
- Take the kids to Disney Land
- Watch the new year come in, in another city
- Go on a massive guilt free shopping spree
- Buy something from Tiffany’s
- Take part in a major festival in another country
- Open a Tea Room with my mum
- Go back to dad’s hometown in Calabria, Italy
- Change someone’s life in a good way
- Watch an Olympic event live
- Help a complete stranger
- Study a course at Oxford University
- Find a job I’m passionate about
- Be in two places at once
COMPLETED
- Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Get a tattoo
- Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- Face a fear
- Win a big competition
- Climb a mountain
- See Roxette in concert
- Ride a gondola in Venice
- Appear on television
- Fall in love
- Have a family
- Listen to the Dalai Lama speak live
- Drive the Great Ocean Road
- Watch an Olympic event live
- Be in two places at once
- Go on a massive guilt free shopping spree
- Find a job I’m passionate about
- Jump in a pool fully clothed
- Stand on Audrey Hepburn’s Star on the Walk of Fame
- See Elton John in Concert
- Write and Publish a Book
- Watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Buy something from Tiffany’s
- Workshop with Gabrielle Bernstein
- Workshop with Elizabeth Gilbert
- Win a Book Award
- Win a Coaching Award
Just gorgeous, Lenore. Well written. You are a true child of your father and mother. A beautiful family. Go get your Bucket List. X
Thank you so much for your beautiful words and support xxx
Come over here, and I Will help you plan a few of those 💜
Don’t you worry….Norway is very high on my list of places to visit 😉
What an inspiration you are Lenore, just like your Father!
I hope I do inspire people just like dad did….I was so proud of him every day, still am xxx
Your dad was an incredibly wonderful person! I never told you this, but he was a great source of comfort to my sister when she was dying many years ago. She was 39. Your bucket list is very much like you- it encompasses the great with the humble. I know that at the end of life’s bucket list, we will meet our loved ones again.
Oh wow!! You have no idea have lovely it is to hear this! It gives me great comfort to hear the beautiful things dad did for other people. Thank you so much for sharing this with me Jude xxx
I am crying, such beautiful words Len. You are a strong brave courageous woman that I know will achieve any and all of your dreams and desires. If there is anything I can do to help you achieve these dreams, you know where to find me xoxo
Thank you for sharing your Dad with us! What a special man. Our dad’s are chosen for us. How lucky we both are to have had such wonderful dads! They leave their gift of life with us to celebrate.
Such beautiful words Jayne…thank you so very much! I am so blessed to have met you x
Beautiful words Lenore and so very true having been where you are….. Your bucket list is amazing. Your dad would be so very proud of you…. Go tackle that bucket list….:)