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OPINION

When I was younger my bucket list was vast: marry the red power ranger, compete on the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego game show, visit the North Pole (possibly end up staying forever) and somehow live with the family from Little House on the Prairie.

As I aged, I revised my bucket list: write and direct my own film, finish the Legend of Zelda, attend a fancy New Year’s Eve party, marry a cowboy and live on a farm and become a professional ballerina.

These days my bucket list is slightly less imaginative.

Last week I traveled to Tacoma, Wash. to see Garth Brooks in concert. Definitely a top item on my list, but I wasn’t sure it would ever happen.

A gift from my husband for continuing to keep our two children alive, we made the drive from Kamloops to Tacoma with our kids and our babysitters in tow — a family affair.

It took two days, countless stops, a pair of wet shoes and endless rounds of singing Baby Beluga.

But we made it.

Our tickets turned out to be legitimate (we took a chance with a shady-looking website and paid triple the cost), and even though we were late, we still made it in time to catch the opening act, buy two beers, a bottle of water and a hot dog wrapped in bacon — I’m still not sure if it was really awesome or really strange.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood put on an amazing show, taking me back in time to old memories — some good and some bad.

I felt like they were old friends disguised as country music superstars.

But despite the energy from the crowd, the phenomenal music and the fact that I was having an adult night out, I couldn’t help but wish my children were there.

I knew they were safe and sound with their grandparents, wreaking havoc in the hotel room and probably raiding a bag of gummy bears, but I wanted to be with them — I was torn.

And after over three hours of being away from them, I was ready to leave the concert early, something I never thought I would do.

Who leaves a Garth Brooks concert early?

But priorities change depending where you are in your life and adjustments to your bucket list have to be made.

I never got to hear Garth Brooks sing The Dance, one of my favourite songs of his. I’ll never know if he ended up singing it, how long the concert went for or what the encore was, but that was my choice.

Maybe I will get the chance to see him perform again in the future, and maybe not.

Once upon a time Garth Brooks took a hiatus from touring to raise his three daughters. Being involved in their lives was obviously a big part of his bucket list so I am sure he will understand me leaving his concert in the last 30 minutes or so.

Bucket lists are important, having goals, dreams and aspirations are important, but it’s OK if you want to go back and edit your list to fit your life.

— Becky Mann is a 30-something, red haired, mother of two, trying to navigate this life as best she can. She enjoys talking to people and discovering their stories. Still trying to balance her personal and professional life, she juggles work and play. In her spare time Becky can be found visiting with friends, spending time with her family and saving time by reading while walking. She knows there is so much more to come and is looking forward to the continued adventure.

News from © iNFOnews, 2017