"Ah c'mon, what's on your "bucket list"? I'll give you my rubber ducky if tell me, pretty please. No, cross my heart I won't tell anyone, not even my best friend, Harry Slug." (...the little fellow with his head in the bucket looking for, silly!)

So what's on your list of top ten things to do before you bite the dust, fall off your perch, give up the ghost, pop your clogs, or you guessed it, "kick the bucket"?

1. Run away for a day and join the circus.
2. Take a trip on the Orient Express.
3. Walk on water.
4. Build a tree fort with all the accessories.
5. Write a letter to everyone whom I love.
6. Visit the North Pole and see Santa's workshop.
7. Name a star.
8. Talk to a politician in Pig Latin.
9. Be in two places at once.
10. Compose a song.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), the inimitable Irish-born comic dramatist, playwright, literary critic and socialist propagandist won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925. This man certainly knew how to live life to it's fullest, and reminded us to do the same during our brief sojourn on this planet called Earth.

A man of with an impeccaby biting wit and and wry sense of humor, he never failed to deliver the zings and arrows of outrageous fortune when the times demanded it.

On the subject of old bones, he had this to say:
"If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance." This is a wise piece of advice to those who have a lot of dead wood in their family trees!

George had a rather unadulteredly centered view of himself, not to mention his place in the scheme of things: "I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation."

But this man of mirth also found time to write this pithy piece of poetry which we might all take heed of as we write our "bucket list".

True Joy of Life

This is the true joy of life.
The being used for a purpose
Recognized by yourself as a mighty one.
The being a force of nature
Instead of a feverish, selfish
Little clod of ailments and grievances
Complaining that the world will not
Devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life
Belongs to the whole community
And as long as I live,
It is my privilege to do for it
Whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly
Used up when I die,
For the harder I work the more I live.
I rejoice in life for its own sake.
Life is no brief candle to me.
It is a sort of splendid torch
Which I've got hold of
For the moment
And I want to make it burn
As brightly as possible before
Handling it on to future generations.

All of which raises the inevitable question, how are you living your life, and what do you wish to pass on to future generations?

Some film critics don't think The Bucket List will be a big box office hit, arguing who would want to pay a pretty penny to watch two cantankerous old coots with cancer doing their last fling?

However, it might just be the sleeper that awakens those blessed baby-boomers in 2008 "The Leap Year" and "The Year of the Rat". It may be time to toss the treadmill, the cheese, not to mention their squeaky clean sneakers, and to do something that tickles their fancy like the old game of "leap frog", or something that truly touches their hearts!

Let's face it, in a world of doom and gloom, it's just not cool to make a movie about two happy has-beens having one last kick at the bucket,(before they reach the end of a 24/7 check-out line with St. Peter and the Devil waiting for you at the till).

Critical illness is a potent reminder that our days on this blue planet are infinitessimal. We are but temporary visitors who emerged from the darkness of another world at birth and live but a brief moment in light before we return the darkness of that great cosmos which surrounds us.

If "life is the funny thing that happened on the way to the forum"...maybe you should try another destination or at the very least try a new drink?

After all, when life gives you lemons, just remember to squeeze those darned lemons for all they're worth, and whatever you do, learn how to make lemonade before you leave!

And, as that old song says, Life is a Caberet, old chum, Come to the Cabeert! So bring along your dancing shoes and kick up your heels, 'cause you deserve the time of your life!

Smile, snicker and smack your lips! Oh and remember that famous Latin motto to live by: Aquila non captat muscas - The eagle doesn't capture flies (or, don't sweat the small stuff, it's a waste of your precious time).

So listen up, if you've only got one to life to live, (unless of course you believe in reincarnation, and that's a whole other ball game), try living it as a blonde (they have more fun). Besides, when it comes right down to it chum or chickadee, only you can make yourself happy!

And, if you're a pathetic procrastinator, there's no time like now to get a wiggle on! Create your very own bucket list and tick off your "to-do's" before the party's over!

Okay, so your wallet is a tad thin, or your pocket has a hole in it...quit complaining and look on the positive side. You're still here aren't you?

So pull your up chin, stick your chest out, and get ready for a bit of fun for absolutely nothing!

1. Noteworthy Nuttiness: Yup, it's time to see how long you can hold a note, well it could be something in the key of G, or maybe it's just a note to your boss explaining why you're taking the day off. Do this with a crowd, and you'll have fun for a few hours...besides what else have you got going for the rest of your life?

2. The Anonymous Rating Game: It's time to play...and this time you get to be the judge and jury! The aim of this little pastime is to rate people, pets, places and paraphernalia on a scale of 1 to 10. Okay, so who is wearing the funkiest footwear, outfit, or hairstyle today? Where is the best place to laugh out loud? What 10 things would you buy if you were leaving on a spaceship tomorrow for a trip to Mars?

3. Blow Bubbles: Your years of blowing out birthday candles probably won't do you any good. How about buying your favorite bubblegum flavor and giving it a whirl. You might even consider organizing a Bubblegum Competition to see who can blow up the biggest, if you're feeling socially-inclined. Okay, so you don't have a sweet tooth, or maybe you've lost your teeth altogether. Stop fretting, it just means you can blow soap bubbles, (but you might try finding a liquid detergent that's environmentally friendly so you can please your gregarious "green" friends and family members).

If you haven't got a clue what to do, and haven't got a "bucket list", here are 50 things you can mull around and meditate upon.

Set aside some time read them over. And then, start working through them giving them each a lot of thought. Good luck!

1. What would you love to do or accomplish, before you die?

2. If you were to begin to achieve that/these, what is the first change you would start to make?

3. What would you need to include MORE of in your life?

4. What would you need to have LESS of in your life?

5. Rewrite your goal(s) so it is 'moving towards' something, rather than 'moving away' from something?

6. What is YOUR personal definition of success?

7. If you had to guess your life purpose, what would it be?

8. What daily habits could you replace with a better daily habit? List them.

9. What would a massive action 'look like' for you?

10. What action would you take, if you knew you could not possibly fail?

11. What has worked for you when accomplishing past personal goals?

12. What can you see about any past setbacks, which may actually benefit you?

13. What are you tolerating/putting up with?

14. What will you do, to completely erase petty things that are bothering you?

15. For what will you take 100% responsibility, from now?

16. If you were your own coach, what coaching would you give yourself right now?

17. Who and what are you listening to, most of the time? How will you change that, if it needs changing?

18. What do you keep saying to yourself that usually hinders your progress?

19. What could you now keep saying to yourself, to empower you?

20. What could you get done this week that you know needs doing?

21. For that task, what is the first step and the next step?

22. What could you put in your environment to remind you of your promises to yourself?

23. What could you include in each day to create and hold your vision for your future?

24. What have you 100%, decided to achieve?

25. What ways do you benefit by NOT deliberately moving toward what you want?

26. What activities and new habits will you deposit into your future, this month?

27. On a scale of 1 to 10, how excited to you feel about taking these actions?

28. What could increase that score?

29. What are your highest aspirations for this year?

30. What are the greatest lessons you have learned in life?

31. What is life asking you to do differently?

32. What are you now willing to do that you've been unwilling to undertake?

33. What non-negotiable decision are you willing to make for your life, and stick to?

34. What in your life needs immediate attention?

35. What strategies could you use to better manage your daily priorities?

36. What is perfect about where you are in your life right now?

37. Describe in detail, your feelings once all your goals are achieved?

38. Which books could you read, people could you call and places could you visit that support your goals?

39. In what way are you a better person this year than last year? What will be your answer, next year?

40. Where will you fine-tune your use of time in the next 24-hours?

41. Is there anything you are ignoring, to which you should be paying attention? Be honest!

42. What are you most excited about now? What are you looking forward to?

43. What ways will you will get more energy into your life?

44. What newly created, personal standard(s) will you abide by, come hail, rain or sunshine?

45. What are your greatest strengths and how will you leverage them?

46. What would you most like to be acknowledged for, so far in your life?

47. What do you need to give yourself so that you can give more to others?

48. What new belief could you take on to speed up your personal decision-making processes?

49. What do you already know for certain? Is that the truth?

50. List all the benefits that you got from completing this exercise, and what are your next steps forward?

__________

Source: Thea Westra, Senior Thought Leader, Forward Steps.

You know what Bible says, "Eat, drink, and be merry." (Ecclesiastes VIII, 15, King James Version) "...for tomorrow you may "kick the bucket", (the Boys from the Bucket List Brigade).

So, the first question on the list is what to eat for your "Last Supper"? You could go with "comfort foods" and be a pig about it. Or, you could take the path less travelled, and try something unusual like masticating upon some:

1. Crumpets, (a tasteless, rubbery delicacy with holes in them, served with oodles of butter, strawberry jam or peanut butter which makes it infinitely more palatable).

2. Mercedes Buns, (cinnamon rolls with less than three grams of fat per serving), for those who wish to remain Flab-Free for another 24 hours.

3. Berry Maniloaf, (a lemon and raspberry bread loaf with 161 calories per slice), for bonified members of the Calorie-Counting Collective.

4. Peter Pancakes, (served with bananas and strawberry sauce); how else are you going to your daily dose of slapsticks with your flapjacks?

For those who need something they'll never forget, try eating your very own:

1. Humble Pie (now that might just be a first for you!)

2. Green Eggs & Ham (ask Dr. Seuss if he's got the recipe?).

3. Words; (and be a good sport about it, share with everyone which ones you liked best.)

As for what to drink on your last date with destiny, try:

1. Marilyn Merlot (Naked Grape, Napa Valley)

2. Cardinal Zin (Bonny Doon Zinfandel)

3. Bloody Good White (California Ca'del Solo).