Strap in and grab a glass of red wine. Or maybe coffee. I have no idea what time of day you're reading this. There's just so much to cover from these last two months, you might need the hand prop. I did a lot of fun shit for the turn of the year, so I'm proud of what I've been checking off this birthday bucket list.
15. go ziplining
Substitution: ride an alpine coaster
I realized that ziplining is something that I should have done in the warmer weather. So when I remembered that one of our little north Georgia mountain towns had an alpine coaster, I decided to make the first bucket list substitution. I have been on many a roller coaster, but never one that is controlled by gravity and a set of hand brakes.
It was a bit of a last-minute plan with my friend, Krissy, and her kids. And even then, we almost called it off because the radar showed rain for the length of that wintry Sunday. But we showed up willingly in our fluffy coats and beanies and slapped down our credit cards. And since the temps were colder than certain anatomical parts on a woman possessing magical powers, there were no other patrons in line to wait behind.
The carts had covers over them, so we didn't get as wet as we feared. We got a beautiful sight from the platform: the city center still strung with holiday lights and greenery. When we made it to the bottom and everyone had risked their voices with delightful screams, the kids were begging for a second run.
Thank goodness the second round is half charge. :)
16. attend a Pride event
Substitution: donate to the Athens LGBTQ Youth Outreach
I could kick myself for missing the Pride events that were celebrated in Athens in November. Conflicts in schedules kept us from attending the parades and such. Heck, I was ready to give out free mom hugs. For the weeks following, I could not figure out how I was going to substitute this one.
Then I saw that the Athens LGBTQ Youth Outreach program was hosting a fundraiser through Instagram.
There was no hesitation. I donated in honor of all the students that have come through my classroom or summer programs over the years questioning their identity and worrying over acceptance from their loved ones.
This teacher lady has got your back. I'm ready with mom hugs outside of any parade.
19. renew my passport
Does this need a detailed explanation? I mean, what if I meet a man who is ready to fulfill my dream of taking me to Italy so I can eat straight from a wheel of Parmesan while we ride Vespas and hike the Dolomites? I will need the proper documentation to be ready for such.
And maybe some Tums.
20. visit my old kickboxing gym for a workout
When I returned to Athens to teach in 2016, I was back on the East Side. It's the very part of town where I cut my teeth in 2004. But the area got a major facelift in the years that I was away, adding favorite fast food joints, a clean liquor store, and a shiny new Publix.
Within this little cluster of commerce, a 9Round gym had opened. I gave it a shot. It was obvious early on that hitting the speedbag with rhythm a-la-Rocky-in-training was not in my skill set. So I got myself a membership and committed to 2-3 sessions a week. I did this for 18 months, all while I was in graduate school and learning how to adjust to single mom life.
Kickboxing does wonders for more than your physique. I was in the best shape of my life, and I was getting to punch shit on the regular. Show up pissed. Bond with the trainers. Bruise your knuckles and grunt a bunch. Go home drenched in sweat and endorphins. Three cheers for the mental health perks!
My joints could only handle so much, though. I remember when I told Matt, the badass owner from Kentucky, that I needed to quit. I didn't want to be a liability on his business when I would inevitably knock my hip out of socket while doing a roundhouse kick. I needed to turn my workouts to something lower impact. I just made sure to promise him I'd come back to visit when my joints were feeling good.
Insert Vikki's bucket list.
Oh, and I'm totally going to brag on myself for a second. The CHOW that week was to see how many full sit-ups followed by two punches with free weights you could do in 3 minutes. All I aimed to beat the lowest number on the board: 41.
I accomplished 62. FUCK YES!
21. get an uncommon type of spa treatment done
I had it in my head that I would do something like the fish-eating-your-foot-flesh-pedicure. But guys...I found a place where I could get into a sensory deprivation chamber.
Yes, it looks like an alien space pod. Yes, there is enough salt in the water to float like you're in the Dead Sea. Yes, it is totally dark inside the pod. But holy salinated ecstasy, it was worth the loudness of my brain beforehand with all the "Can I really do this?" That's because I have a legit fear of drowning. Toss in darkness around the water, and I basically had to tell my fear to fuck right off.
It took me a minute to find a comfortable way to float. And my ADD brain didn't get to full serenity because something dumb would happen. Like my pinky would hit the inside of the pod and I'd be torn between being anchored in a new spot versus giving a gentle pinky push away from it. I will say, though, that you walk out of there with whatever tension you're carrying gone. At least, that's how I was feeling when I left. If you're the type who includes a massage in your self-care routine, I say change it up every once in a while with this kind of treatment.
24. try a trapeze class
Substitution: go to a silks class
I called on my education colleague, Jennifer B., for this one. She had shared a photo of herself in a silks class on Facebook. Since it had been nearly a decade since I tried one, I messaged her and asked if she would take me to such a class. She gave a very enthusiastic "yes". We met at Sky Barre on the Beltline with the promise of a lunch date right after.
I just have to say: I am so glad I work out on the regular because it was intense. Jennifer and I both kept looking at each other, naming that hurt and fanning the sweat. My abs and thighs ached for a couple days afterward. But it was so fun, especially being there with a friend who could help me into poses and not make me feel like an idiot.
28. share a beer with a former student (because I have students that old now!)
This one really hit me right in the feelings about growing older...
Hannah was in my 5th grade class. She had just moved to Winder, so I was her first teacher in the district. She was just an incredible human at age 11. Strong academics, but also a big heart and a natural leader made Hannah stand out from the crowd. I don't keep up with a ton of students after they leave my care. But her mom, Valerie, and I were pregnant within months of each other, and her son and my daughter ended up in the same preschool program for two years. I was kept in the loop of Hannah's life, even supporting her high school cheerleading squad when they hosted 5K fundraisers. Naturally, I was tickled when I was invited to her graduation.
She and I became friends on social media. When she turned 22, I asked how she'd feel about sharing a beer with her old teacher. Her reply: "Name the place!" We got flights at the legendary Creature Comforts in downtown Athens where she caught me up on her grown-up life now that she's about to graduate college.
I have taught roughly 1,500 kiddos in my 17 years. So it is not lost on me how precious this evening was in getting a glimpse into the life of one. I made sure to message Valerie to let her know how grateful I was for the time with Hannah and for the friendship we've kept since.
29. go ice skating
I had anxiety over this one. But you gotta face your fear and do it anyway, right?
I might have held onto the wall for the first 30 minutes of being on the ice, watching teenagers zip past me while I tried talking my center of gravity into actually staying centered. I eventually got the hang of it and was able to accomplish laps without physical assistance. Didn't fall a single time, though! Had so much fun, I went a second time the very next day. This just might become an annual tradition.
35. do a TikTok dance challenge
Want to know how well I can dance? Think of that scene from Seinfeld where Elaine is throwing elbows and knees. Yeah, I might be worse than that. So if you're at all interested in watching me do a horrible job doing the "Adele Back-up Dancer" challenge, you can find me on TikTok under my account: @thesciencepoetic. You are allowed to point and laugh.
Bonus items:
50. watching the Georgia Bulldogs win the National Championship
I don't think this one needs further explanation. It was truly awesome.
51. watching the Geminids
My daughter and I wrapped up in our sleeping bags and sat out in our camping chairs behind our house for this one. It's the shower with the highest rate of meteors of the year, and it really proved itself worthy of being up late on a school night for the watch.
52. survive omicron
Totally caught the 'rona. But I was feeling roughly back to normal within a few days. Feeling pretty grateful at how easy I had it. What was weird, though, was the temporary shift in my sense of smell. Instead of losing it, it made anything acidic smell like it would burn the inside of my nose. Glad that passed because I love my balsamic.
Stats:
30 items down
10 to go
And 12 bonus items!
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