05 Aug Cancer Diagnosis + Revisiting my Bucket List
This summer has not been what I expected. I’d planned to go home for three weeks to get a branchial cyst removed, catch up with family and friends, then come back to my husband for a trip to Armenia and Georgia. But one week after my surgery, I went for my post-op, and heard a word I wasn’t prepared for: cancer.
Most of my time in Florida was spent in doctors’ offices. Luke had to hear the news over Skype. My sister and mother cried, and Dad went quiet. Even with a good prognosis (thyroid cancer is one of the most curable cancers), that C-word rattled us.
After hastily canceling our trip to the Caucasus region and returning to Bucharest, I’ve had a lot of time to think. What’s my purpose in life? Do I believe in a higher power? Should I stay abroad or move back home?
During one of these periods of pensiveness, I dug up my old bucket list. I typed it up ten years ago before moving to Korea—a time when my thoughts were permanently dancing high above my head. I was 27, heart-broken, about to lose my job, and had an intense longing to do something that would change everything I thought I knew about myself and the world.
Looking back on all of these things, I feel immense gratitude. I also feel the need to keep adding to the list. We never know how much longer we have here on earth.
Live abroad- Visit all 7 continents
Walk on the Great Wall of ChinaRide a camel in the desert- Stay at an ashram in India
- See the Taj Mahal
Hike Machu Picchu in PeruSee the pyramids- Go on an African safari
Travel by myselfLive in Europe-
Become a full-time writer - Fly first class
- A wine tour in Napa Valley
- Win an important award
Positively affect a child’s lifeBecome a big sister to someone who needs it- Raft through the Grand Canyon
- Hang gliding
Sky divingWhite water raftingGet my scuba diving certification- Watch the sun set in Santorini (This is happening in October!)
Eat pizza in Naples, ItalyEat sushi in JapanComplete a challenging race- Learn to dance ballroom
- Learn to speak Spanish fluently (In progress)
Drink steins in MunichGo to a coffee shop in AmsterdamHave a spa dayRide a mechanical bullFall recklessly in love- Write a book
Write a food column for a magazineLearn about wineTake professional cooking classes- Learn to play an instrument
- Take a photography class
Try to surf- Catch a fish and eat it for dinner
Explore the canals in Venice- Go to a pub in Ireland
- Visit a castle in England
Learn to salsa danceDance tango in Buenos Aires- Learn to play golf
- Learn to play chess
- Swim with dolphins
- Go scalloping
Fly in a hot-air balloonExplore the Louvre in ParisLearn to meditateRide a motorcycleGet out of debtGo backpackingGo on a road tripHave a successful blog- See the aurora borealis
Own a convertibleSee Angkor WatExplore Rome’s ancient ruins- Stay inside the old walled city of Jeruselum
Go to BaliTeraccota Warriors in ChinaSee a show at the Sydney Opera House in AustraliaTravel Vietnam top to bottomJungle trekkingRide an elephant in ThailandPaint something and frame itDecorate my house with pictures I’ve taken from around the worldThrow a surprise partyVisit PompeiiDive the Great Barrier ReefGo to Rio de Janerio in BrazilRide a bike down “the world’s most dangerous road” in BoliviaVolunteer abroadFind a cause and volunteer regularlyLearn to drive a stick shift-
Become a certified teacher Take a Turkish bath in Turkey- Go to a spice market in India
Visit the Old Town Square in Prague- Have high tea in London
- See Giant’s Causeway in Ireland
Spend a day in Belgium drinking beer and eating chocolateRent a car with my significant other and travel “The Romantic Road” in Bavaria, GermanyWine tour in Italy- Ride the Trans-Siberian Express in Russia
- Take the Sampo Icebreaker Cruise in Kempi, Lapland, Finland
- Go to Alaska and experience 24 hours of daylight
- Spend the night in The Ice Hotel in Norrland, Sweden
- Dive in the Read Sea in Egypt
- See Petra, then camp in Wadi Rum desert
- Take the hydrofoil from Spain to Morocco
- 9-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya
- Float on the Dead Sea then take a mud bath in En-gedi, Israel
Stroll through the covered bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey- Visit the Galapagos Islands
- Cruise to Antarctica from Argentina
My thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection is scheduled for December 11th in Florida. I’ll be returning for radiation therapy in March and hope to get the “all clear” after that. Meantime, I think I’ll work on crossing off some more bucket list items.
Tell me: would you like updates? Do you have your own bucket list? If so, what’s on it? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
Karen nicolai
Posted at 10:48h, 05 AugustI love this! Can you send me the original list so I can work on it? Thoughts and prayers (to a higher being?) are with you. So envious of you and life style
admin_jennifer
Posted at 04:25h, 06 AugustOf course! And thank you for the thoughts and prayers 🙂
Bill Stevens
Posted at 12:15h, 05 AugustYou will finish this bucket list and more! My bucket list is much shorter: See you back to your healthy, happy, athletic, curious, loving self.
admin_jennifer
Posted at 04:24h, 06 AugustI like that bucket list 🙂
Scott Magri
Posted at 19:03h, 05 AugustWhat a great list Jennifer! I am praying that you have a quick recovery.
admin_jennifer
Posted at 04:24h, 06 AugustThank you so much. Feels good to dust off this blog.
Candy Barron
Posted at 21:23h, 05 AugustPlease give us updates on your progress, both on your bucket list and your health!
admin_jennifer
Posted at 04:23h, 06 AugustThanks for the reply, Candy! I will be sure to 🙂
Shine
Posted at 08:55h, 06 AugustYou are living life to its fullest-You are curious, adventurous, loving. You have and will continue to make a difference in the world.
My bucket list is simple- To see you back to good health and thriving. There are things I would like to do- live abroad for a few months, go to Greece, but nothing is as important as seeing you back to your healthy happy self.
admin_jennifer
Posted at 05:51h, 11 AugustThank you. I am so lucky to have you to help me!
Patty
Posted at 08:53h, 12 AugustI never thought I would know another traveller with a list longer than mine. You have some I never had a desire to do until now. I have crossed off several that you have not and experienced an unexpected smile knowing you will totally enjoy them. Then there are those that we both have accomplished and it only reassured me that we really do need to meet each other…maybe on a safari, or on a hydrofoil to Morocco, long on my list is trekking Kilimanjaro. We got this! You got this!
Nice to see you blogging again too. I thoroughly enjoy your writing.
Derek Kuryliw
Posted at 15:15h, 24 SeptemberWow I’m speechless. I ended up on your blog after seeing something from your students on your IG stories. First of all you are incredible for your courage in conquering all the amazing sights of this planet. Second, tears started to build up as you contemplated your purpose and higher power. THEN, your dad’s bucket list started the water works!
I’m inspired by your relentless effort to “live” life, not just let life happen to you. I think our purpose in life is to experience things, then to provide impact to others based on what you’ve learned/acquired from those experiences. I think you are doing EXACTLY that.
Thank you for your bravery to share your story. Good bless you for healing, health, new opportunities and bigger bucket list goals ahead!
admin_jennifer
Posted at 21:12h, 13 NovemberThank you so much for this heart-felt comment. I am so blessed to have such love and light surrounding me! xoxo
Stacia O'Connell
Posted at 08:22h, 21 NovemberBeen getting updates from your mom-we’re foodie friends at Publix! I look forward to seeing you mark off more goals on your bucket list. As for mine, I will be turning 60 this year and my plan is to make this one even better than my 50th!
At the top of my bucket list are:
Finish my poetry chapbook (and get it published)
Get my first (and second, and third…) tattoo
Travel (destination yet to be determined
Take bolder steps towards my artwork
Go back to school (finish my Visual Communications degree, work on Bachelors)
and most importantly, let go and breathe
Bless your brave soul, you and your mom inspire me!