By: Wanda Campbell
A “once-in-a-lifetime” experience is something you will probably only do once. For me, visiting the Holy Land or watching the Aurora Borealis in Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Most of us will only dream about that once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we can make our dreams come true.
In 2007, a movie titled The Bucket List came out. It was about two complete strangers finding themselves sharing a hospital room. They have two things in common: they need to come to grips with their illness and they want to do a number of things before they die. They check themselves out of the hospital and begin their once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The movie stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It is a fun movie about hope and growing old and not putting off experiences. Of course, Jack Nicholson’s character was a millionaire so he could afford everything.
Not all of our once-in-a-lifetime experiences are costly trips to Europe. Sometimes items on our bucket list are free or of little cost, but we put them off for another time. How long can you wait?
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” is attributed to both Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left over from those who hustle,” said Abraham Lincoln. Michael Landon said, “Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
What is on your bucket list? I really want to know. You can call me at 256-233-8262 or email wanda.campbell@athens.edu.
My bucket list has a couple of things on it. I would like to take my kids on the trip of their lifetime. Two want to go to Ireland, and one wants to go to Italy and France on a cooking tour. For myself, I would like to go to Antarctica. I know it is a COLD, desolate place but I want to see it. Since I will probably never get to Antarctica, I have chosen to go to Iceland instead.
The Athens State Alumni Association is sponsoring a trip to Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights from October 13 through October 19, 2018. The trip is seven days and includes 10 meals. The tour includes Reykjavik, Northern Lights Cruise, Golden Circle, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Vik, Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Visitor Centre, Skogar Folk Museum, Skógafoss, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajökull Glacier, and Blue Lagoon.
What an opportunity to discover Iceland, a land forged by fire and ice. It has steaming lava fields and massive glaciers, thundering waterfalls and plunging fjords. It is also a rare opportunity to see the aurora borealis — one of nature’s most dazzling light displays, also known as the northern lights. I have been told that the Northern Lights are going away so I really want to see them, if I can.
I may never be able to pronounce the places that I will travel, but I am sure it will be amazing. If you are interested in traveling with me, there will be a trip briefing on Monday, October 9, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Waters Hall Conference Room on the 3rd floor. If you plan to attend, call me at 256-233-8262. We will also discuss the trip to Venice, Florence, and Rome.
By: Wanda Campbell
Center for Lifelong Learning – 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 – 256-233-8262
