Friday, November 21, 2008

My list at 30

If you know me, you know I collect experiences. I am all about experiencing the new and different. In honor of 30, Dave and I compiled a list of what I've done that's different or unusual or just me. Here's what we came up with... there are lots of stories here.

Dug for diamonds.
Took ballet.
Won a beauty pageant. Waved in parades.
Elected a state 4-H officer.
Starred in a play.
Played shortstop.
Had knee surgery. Twice.
Elected Homecoming Queen and Class President. On court in College.
Reported and anchored at a TV station.
Taught College.
Got Roses from 2-different guys on Valentine's Day.
Had my heart broken. Broke someone's heart.
Hung out in Alcatraz.
Slept in a jail... in Canada.
Tasted wine in Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Attended a sock hop at Graceland.
Had picture made with Elvis in Vegas.
Been on the "dam" tour.
Made maple syrup.
Went through sorority rush.
Was a Sorority House mom. Got involved in a Whip Cream & chocolate fight there.
Been rejected from a Masters and a PhD program. Been accepted too.
Been Baptized. Twice.
Attended Baptist Church camp. Sang in a Choir.
Debated in national tournament. Beat Rice.
Drank on Bourbon Street.
Waited tables. Was the RA for the volleyball team.
Cheered for the Hogs and Seminoles.
Cheered for friend at Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City.
Watched fireworks on the 4th of July from the Mall in Washington DC.
Ate chocolate in Hershey, PA.
Lived on the North Carolina beach.
Tasted fresh Budweiser in St Louis and Ben & Jerry's in Vermont.
Ate a hot pastrami sandwich at Katz's deli in New York.
Ate Reindeer in Alaska. Saw a glacier.
Rode in the Clinton Presidential Motorcade. Covered the White House.
Saw World Trade Center. Saw Ground Zero.
Drove through the Bridges of Madison County.
Hiked in Swamps, Marshes, and Mountains.
Rode to the top of the Arch in St. Louis.
Sat in a Redwood tree.
Rode the roller coaster on the Santa Monica pier.
Put my hands in Rita Hayworth's in Hollywood.
Rode on the Maid of the Mist at Niagra Falls.
Caught Mardi Gras beads in Louisiana.
Watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Times Square.
Drank a margarita on spring break in Cancun. Drank a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's.
Snorkeled near a reef and through a jungle. Swam with sting rays.
Participated in FFA National Dairy Judging Competition. Placed second.
Showed a bull at the County Fair.
Won a Grand Champion ribbon at County Fair. (baking)
Skinned an animal. Plucked a chicken. Gathered eggs.
Learned to make yeast bread. Competed in sewing contest.
Jumped off a cliff.
Learned to clog.
Saw a taping of a show in L.A.
Seen 3 presidents. Met 6 governors. Many senators.
Attended one National Convention.
Covered Hurricane Katrina. Saw Columbia shuttle wreckage.
Toured both ends of the Mississippi River.
Shopped at the Mall of America.
Held a Civil War canonball. Rode in a WWII Tank.
Met a World War I veteran. Shook hands with a Holocaust survivor.
Figured out a way never to split Christmases between families.
Rode a NY subway by myself.
Been "armadillo stomping." Played "rabbit."
Lived in a trailer park. Lived on a farm.
Chased down a celebrity in a car (Sorry Steve Carrell).
Raced for the Cure.
Had a Race horse named for me.
Went hunting for the Gurdon Light ghost. Got scared.
Attended a Rosh Hashanah service. Attended a Ramadan break-fast.
Had a big wedding with all the trimmings.
Been a bridesmaid. Toasted someone.
Eulogized my grandmother. Spoke at High School Graduation.
Attended an AA meeting with friend.
Won a media shooting contest at a Police Academy.
Participated in an eating contest.
Sent packages to Iraq.
Collected stamps. Scrapbooked.
Freelanced. Blogged.

4 comments:

Mary Downey said...

You ate a Reindeer? What a list of accomplishments (though did you find that Gurdon Light?) Happy Birthday to a girl that is truly a "jill of all trades" and someone I'm proud to call my friend and an inspiration to us all!

karlyn, troy, and bryson said...

Happy Birthday to a wonderful friend! I miss you more than you know and wish that I could be with you on "The Big One"! Congratulations on an impressive and inspiring list!

Elementary Escapades said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON! The Big 3-0? Wow, that feels like a million years ago for me even though it was only 2!!!

Adrianne said...

Ok I am just getting to read this. But you forgot something very important!! Sleeping in a super sketchy hostile in NY with 1 awesome friend!! :)

Also Interning for a total RATner....