Things I Have Done

Everybody makes a list of things they want to do, or need to do. But this savvy commenter over at Shannon Hale's excellent blog suggested making a list of things one has already done. It's good for the whole sense-of-accomplishment thing.

Here's my list of Things I Have Done. This is not exhaustive--in fact, I may have to add to it in the future, as I'm too sleepy to be confident in my memory tonight.

I have:

• Been to Canada.
• Flown in an airplane.
• Ridden a horse (and taught it a thing or two.)
• Completed the first draft of a juvenile novel.
• Recorded, at last count, about 13 of my own songs—and written over 100. Most of which the world will never hear, thank God.
• Journaled thousands of pages, also not for public distribution.
• Been asked "Will you marry me?"
• Said "Yes".
• Worked potato harvest. (Loudest job I've ever had.)
• Guided a raft through a class IV rapid—and for the rest of a six-day trip down the Salmon River.
• Swum a class III rapid. In April. It most resembles being knocked off one's feet and hit in the face multiple times with five-gallon bucketfuls of ice water.
• Climbed rock walls and rappelled off the top of them.
• Taught a high-school girl to rappel, and watched her conquer her fears in the process.
• Been the teacher's partner during a swing-dancing class at a wedding.
• Read most of my favorite novels at least five times apiece.
• Maintained two blogs (one for over two years).
• Been kissed in the rain by a handsome man wearing a fedora. (How much more romantic can you get?)
• Been homeschooled on a farm in Montana (seriously, how many people do you know that can say that?)
• Graduated high school with "very high marks in English" (watch me make a typographical error in this post!)
• Stayed up all night to read a book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; 1 AM start, 7:30 AM finish.)
• Carried the gifts forward at the cathedral in Seattle. On my first visit.
• Gone to Regionals in the spelling bee in fifth grade.
• Accidentally spelled "mirror" with a "w" in the spelling bee in sixth grade.
• Sheared a sheep.
• Milked a goat.
• Assisted at the birth of lambs and goat kids.
• Read the Bible through in a year and 18 days. Didn't quite make the one-year goal, but shot close.
• Gone deer-hunting.
• Attempted to learn four languages at once. I still remember the two words of Arabic I learned (it was the fourth.)
• Flipped a canoe in the Puget Sound, along with three other girls. We had to get rescued by a fishing boat.
• Played guitar, piano, and sung in front of hundreds of people. Nobody threw tomatoes.
• Took on the adventurous job of worship leading at about age 19.
• Sung lead and baritone parts in a barbershop choir. (Also did "Singing Valentines" ... interesting work.)
• Been chased by a headless snapping turtle. (I believe I've mentioned that before on this blog.)
• Participated in practical-joking the youth pastor's house.
• Grown my hair out to past my waist.

I'm not sure this list qualifies me as an interesting person, but I just might be okay with that.