The Bucket List

I've been inspired by a website that one of my cousins directed me to shortly after Mike died - One Fit Widow. She is very inspiring - she lost her husband suddenly a few years back and was left with two very small children, and loves fitness (sound familiar?).
One of her inspiring stories is how she is living out her bucket list each year - a list of things she and her late husband had wanted to do together but never were able to. She now is doing them in his memory.
http://onefitwidow.com/making-a-difference-2/team-mitch-adventure-weekends/
Live the List is a part of the non-profit that will help widows achieve items on their own bucket list in honor of their late husbands. The non-profit will sponsor widows to take part in their bucket list adventures. I can't think of a better way to honor Mike - and I know that he would want me to do things for him/with him now that he's not here.
So here goes my bucket list - for you, my Michael. I'll keep adding to it as I remember things we wanted to do together, or that you wanted to do that I now hope to do for, and in honor of, you.

1. Alaska - he would want to hunt bear.
2. Italy -to see where his family came from.
3. Africa big game hunt - he actually was torn on this one. He'd been to Africa but not a very nice part of it. I think if given the chance he'd enjoy a big game hunt even though he wasn't sure about going back there.
4. New Orleans - this trip will happen next month. We had bought the tickets and booked the hotel. I am still going and know he will be with me. He wanted to eat alligator. I'm guessing this means I'll have to give it a try!
5. Grow a garden again - I will do this next summer and Mike will have his own little spot there.
6. Sturgis Bike Rally - this one will take some time, and I don't anticipate going on a bike. But man did he want to go and see it in person.
7. Retire to Montana. Who am I kidding - he wanted to move there years ago. But I always tried to convince him retiring there would be the way to go. We'll see how that works out in 25-30 years :)
8. Gillette Castle with our kids - he had been when he was young and wanted to bring our kids there. This will happen this summer.
9. See Garth Brooks live. He never got to - Garth was his all time favorite country music performer.
10. See Reba McEntire - Mike's 'older woman crush' was Reba. He loved that woman! It would be so awesome to see her live. **UPDATE! She is coming to CT in the Fall and Mike's mom got tickets!!! **
11. Go on 'The Amazing Race' - we loved that show and always thought it would be fun to do together when the kids got a little older. We'd talk about strategy and how we'd be so much better than the other teams.... and how much we'd fight with each other doing it so we would obviously  be good for the ratings! And it turns out they are coming to CT next week for a Casting Call so I'm trying out with my sister in law. We'll make a good team - Team Hoss :)
12. Teach both kids gun safety and how to shoot. I've got a few folks who will help with this when the time is right :) He'd probably of liked to teach them to bow hunt as well.
13.Build a log home for our family. I definitely still want to do this someday!