Bucket List/Being Lucky

Several people over the last few weeks have asked me if I have a bucket list. I have never sat down and actually made a list, but maybe I should. Before my diagnosis, I used to say "before I die I want to do _______". Then sometimes I would get into my head that once I did that particular thing I was for sure going to die. So I started thinking of multiple things so I wouldn't exhaust my list. So, maybe that is why I don't write it down. However, since my diagnosis some of the things I had thought before I wanted to do, don't appeal to me as much. My priorities have certainly changed.

I've read a couple of articles lately about improving your odds of being lucky. I'm not sure that is really a true statement as I thought lucky always meant by chance something fortunate happened to you. So strategically planning something isn't by chance. But several things that may have been on my bucket list at some point have happened because I was at the right place at the right time (like meeting certain people) -- that may be considered luck -- but when I think of it I had probably put myself in a certain spot in order for that to happen even though it wasn't a conscious decision on my part. I'm not sure I'm explaining this the best way I can -- but I think of a bucket list as something you concsiously set out to do and then achieve it.

Some things I've always wanted to do or have:


Skydive
Go to Australia
Win a tennis tournament
Shoot a hole in one
Meet Maria Shriver
Own a red Mazda Miata
Have a screened in porch
Be skinny
Make a difference to someone


Some of these I've achieved, some I haven't.

What's on your bucket list?

Several Opportunities for You to Share

I wanted to take a few minutes to point you in the direction of a few upcoming events. I apologize for the late notice on the first one, but I've been out of town a few days.

1. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/forum/andelot-alzheimers.cfm
Here is a link to a webcast tomorrow (Friday, July 22 at 12 noon ET) about the value of knowing about an early diagnosis of Alzheimer's. Here is a description I was forwarded

Our upcoming webcast event, “Alzheimer’s: What is the Value of Knowing Early? A View Across Five Countries” presented in collaboration with Reuters will focus on the public’s perception of the disease, where the medical and scientific communities currently are with testing and treatment, and what governments in countries around the world are doing to address this growing public health crisis

If you go to the link you can post questions for the panelists.

2. The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) is seeking input from people that have been affected by the disease. Many states are holding input sessions. (Ours in Georgia is on Saturday August 13th). To find a town hall meeting/input session in your area go to http://napa.alz.org/ and click on the events tab. It will bring up many of the input sessions across the country that you have a chance to participate it. This is our chance for us to be heard. Please take a moment and check it out -- we don't get this opportunity very often, so please take advantage of it.

Alz. Assoc. International Conference

Right now the Alzheimer's Association International Conference is taking place in Paris, France. You have probably seen some news stories about some of what is coming out of the conference. Here is a link to the page where you can catch up on the latest developments.
http://www.alz.org/aaic/

StoryCorps

Another Alzheimer's related story on StoryCorps. Thought you might like to listen http://storycorps.org/listen/stories/betsy-brooks-and-john-grecsek/

This ran on NPR sometime late last week. I've written about StoryCorps before and it's worth listening to!