January 18, 2005

2 Do

pink_petal.jpg
pink, Canon Digital Rebel

I just found a fantastic site this morning called 2 Do Before I Die. It is a place where people record their lists of things they want to do before they die and true stories from people who have done things on their lists.

This story about Benjamin Wagner meeting Mr. Rogers is my current favorite.

And on a similar subject, I've heard great things about this book: A Year to Live by Stephen Levine. Has anyone read it? Some friends of mine used to meet up regularly to work on it together. I think the title always scared me but I am drawn to this book just the same.


Posted on January 18, 2005 10:41 PM
Comments

2 do before i die is a gorgeous website ~ i giggled relentlessly through "sleep with three women in one day"

tee hee hee ;)

and what a divinely beautiful photo of the flower ~ like a flash of heaven on a wintery day.

love and laughter,
Leonie

Posted by: Leonie at January 22, 2005 02:05 AM

Mr. Rogers is my hero. I once read a story about how a few years before he died, his Oldsmobile was stolen by a couple of teenagers. But when they found out who's car it was they had taken, they were mortified and returned it with an apology. Now who else would they have done that for?

Posted by: Steph at January 21, 2005 07:11 AM

You are so insightful and inspiring! Thank you, Andrea! Love ya -

Posted by: Carrie at January 20, 2005 06:04 PM

Wonderful post and the story about Mr. Rogers... I'm going to go for simple and deep forever more!!
Thank you and yes "A year to live" is very good, especially with a group reading it and processing it for a year. It changed my life completely.

Posted by: Lani at January 20, 2005 01:55 PM

I have always been attracted to the concept of being prepared to die. It seems like such a freeing thing...to let yourself live so much more deeply! yes death scares me, but being 40 years old I feel more and more compelled to make my life rich.

after my mom died 16 years ago..the overwhelming surprising thing about it was that it wasn't all bad. I mean there is grief, but one of my biggest lessons was to realise that I don't serve her or her life by being sad all the time. Ya gotta see the whole picture.

Posted by: sarah at January 19, 2005 11:09 AM

Andrea,

This is soo creepy that you write about things to do before one dies...because my husband and I just went to our solicitor on Monday and made our wills. It's not the kinda thing I ever thought about but we had to do it because we bought our house (which we will move in end of next week) and it is necessary.

We sat around joking here and there so it was not an emotional and serious event but it still makes you think, now that that is sort of done (still some things to figure out). I was thinking to make a list of things I want to do before I die, but I won't.
I'm not a list person for several reasons, but i will keep thinking, that's for sure.

Beautifully intimate shot of the magnolia. Well captured.

~tine.

Posted by: tine at January 19, 2005 10:39 AM

Thanks for always bringing new things into my life Andrea :)

Posted by: ali at January 19, 2005 10:02 AM

I adore this photo--- it is sublime.

Posted by: bluepoppy at January 19, 2005 07:35 AM

andrea,

what a gorgeous picture. simple but very pretty.

i just love the 2 do link what inspirational stories. i too loved the Mr. Rogers story, so sweet and lovely.

and a good friend of mine has been reading a year to live for about six months but keeps telling me it's a must read for everyone.

Posted by: jenn at January 19, 2005 04:38 AM

What a beautiful post, both the picture and the contents moved me greatly.

"A Year To Live" is a lovely book, highly recommended for all humans being.

The Mr. Rogers story made my day!

Delight-full.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank you.

Posted by: Donavan at January 18, 2005 10:35 PM

my eighth grade english teacher, ms. christiansen, had us make such a list. mine is... somewhere. i made another one in high school, and i was pleasantly surprised at how many of the things i've already done...

i still haven't ridden in a 1-horse open sleigh, played the part of Eponine on Broadway (oh please!), or ridden a cow, but i have been to italy, taught someone to crochet, and walked down the champs elysees singing "OOOOOOHH champs elysees!"

Posted by: sara at January 18, 2005 06:45 PM

A Year To Live is a great read. Really puts things in perspective... I highly reccommend it.

Posted by: Julia at January 18, 2005 06:17 PM

Couldn't get the link to 2 Do Before I Die to work, but I did glance at the site after I Googled it. Similar idea at www.43things.com...(a place I've enjoyed spending some time recently).

Posted by: Marilyn at January 18, 2005 02:25 PM

I've read A Year to Live, and I remember it being a really good read. But I digress, I need to read it again to motivate myself.

Your photos are wonderful and love stopping by to see what you post next.

Posted by: Kandy at January 18, 2005 01:59 PM