Bucket List

I was at our Christmas Party for Eden North on Saturday. As always it was a lot of fun. I miss seeing my friends often, and the off season is generally very busy for all of us. Needless to say, the periodical gatherings we have are a blessing.

I was talking with Tina and Blair at one point. Tina is moving to New Zealand in February to go to school. Blair is from New Zealand, and we were all chatting about all the things to do. (I'm into surfing and any type of beach/water sport.) Blair advised taking in a rugby game, traveling to the wild island, and swimming with sharks.... yes swimming with sharks.

Now I realize that we are skydivers and as a rule a little nuts to begin with, but swimming with sharks is kinda out there, even for us. Or so I thought. First I asked him if he was nuts, and he said that swimming with sharks is no big deal. To which Tina said "But it's a SHARK". In his laid back kiwi style he answered "Do you get attacked by a bear every time you go in the woods?" Well obviously not, but bears are not in the habit of biting a chunk out of something to satisfy their curiosity. All in what you grow up with I guess. When your back yard has Great Whites in it, it's no big deal.

The evening progressed and we went our separate ways, but the idea of swimming with sharks being no big deal stuck with me. We're talking about a fish the size of my truck that's main desire in life is consumption... and things like Orcas are on the menu. I've seen the Jaws movies, and though they were based on a bull shark that killed 3 people in the Hudson river over 100 years ago, it still makes me think our lovely Kiwi is out of his mind. But then so am I.

I've not been able to get the idea out of my head, and it has made it's way onto my bucket list. Things to do before kicking that big bucket in the sky. Many of the things I have already done, many I have not. Seeing Uluru (Ayers Rock), Stone Henge, Blarney Castle, Notre Dame Cathedral, base jumping in Norway, base jump from a helicopter, bungie jump from a helicopter, bungie jump in New Zealand, and now swimming with sharks are still on the list.

We always say one day, but the tickets don't buy themselves.... something to look into. For now, I'll just concentrate on getting through Christmas with out stuffing anyone in a stocking.