on achieving my bucket list goal: Venice!

You  know how you sit around doing the same ole same ole, day after month after year, and think, "I'm going to DO something one of these days. I'm going to GO somewhere and DO something."
You might even make that ubiquitous bucket list the dudes in the movie made famous.

Good for you!
But do you ever actually DO anything on that list?
What are you waiting for? You're not getting any younger, Bunky.
The oddest things can tip you over the edge from rational and cautious to balls-to-the-wall, I'm DONE with waiting . .. let's go all ready!
 For me, it happened a few nights ago. I was reading a book from Nora Roberts' Key trilogy . . . excellent, as is everything she writes.
The main character is a woman who has never been anywhere (don't worry . . . she'll be going places with her love life, compliments of Nora). This woman collects post cards from places other people have gone. Ok, that's cool.
But she has given up on ever going to these places herself.
Well, the romantic interest stands in her living room one night, admiring her postcard display, and he says, "Nice picture of Venice. I've stood on that bridge.)
(The Rialto Bridge, in Venice, Italy.)
And I think to myself, hey! Venice is one of the places on my bucket list. And I thought, gee, why does that guy -- who doesn't even exist, really -- get to go to my bucket list city, and I don't?
And suddenly I thought, the HELL you say. I'm going to Venice! Before it's too late! Before I get old, or get sick, or get broke, or develop a fear of flying or bridges or water.
So I asked my daughter if she wanted to go and she said, heck yeah!
I've taken trips with each child after high school, though none so exciting as this. It's her turn.
We've invited a pair of our friends, but whether they decide to go or no, we are going to Venice, Italy next summer.
I ordered an Italian language course from eBay. We're learning Italian, and going to Venice! Prego!
So now I'm going to sell stuff on those Facebook sites to fund the trip.
I am so excited! I'm going to Europe in 12 months!
I'll keep you apprised about our year of Italian immersion as we get closer.
Is this a crazy idea? Absolutely!
Does that make it a bad idea? Who knows? Maybe by going to Venice, we'll not be here when the fault under Ohio busts wide open. Maybe everyone should go to Venice!
So there it is -- out there in the public.
Just wish me Buon Viaggio!