The Bucket List

Really... I have never been the type to plan for anything beyond five years. Since joining the Marine Corps in 1990, my mentors and leaders have always said to create the "big blue arrow" or in layman's term where you want to end up after a given action. I have used five years as a doable option. I always keep my plan flexible in the event that the needs of the Marine Corps dictate otherwise. However, one particular event earlier this year changed my philosophy.
On May 29, 2009, my grandfather and hero passed away as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Fortunately for the sake of the family, he had planned and paid for 99% of all the funeral arrangements, to include picking out his casket, gravestone marker, burial plot, etc. well in advance. In fact, most of the funeral arrangements had been made in the late 1970's. Not only did his advanced planning save a grieving family from having to make additional decisions, it saved his estate a lot of money.
Although, I still have not summoned up the courage to plan for the days following my demise, I have started considering those things that I want to do before I die. There has been some attention given to this area following the Morgan Freeman/Jack Nicholson movie titled, "The Bucket List". There are even Facebook Groups for people to share their "bucket lists". I have even discussed with my family the things they want to do before they die.
One of the things that I have noticed in reading the many bucket lists, is that some people have put unachievable goals on their lists, like "be less judgemental". I wanted my list to include things that can be checked off so that I know I have achieve it when the time comes. I heard my Grandfather say many times, "I thought I would only live about 10 years after retiring". He actually lived 27 years after retiring.
So I know you are are thinking, "get to it already", so here is the much anticipated Tri3-Mike Bucket List:

1. Take my wife on an around the world cruise.
2. Pay for my children's educational expenses.
3. Backpack thru Europe with my family.
4. Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail with my son.
5. Complete an Ironman Triathlon.
6. Complete the Badwater 135 (a 135 mile race that starts in Death Valley and finishes at Mount Whitney).
7. Complete the Furance Creek 508 (508-mile bicycle race that crosses ten mountain passes, and stretches from Santa Clarita, across the Mojave Desert, through Death Valley, to Twentynine Palms and has a total elevation gain of over 35,000 feet).
8. Complete the Race Across America (a 3,000-mile bicycle race from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD).
9. Live in Spain.
10. Become a motivational speaker.
11. Complete at least one tour as a Peace Corps Volunteer.