Week 75

Positive post Sunday, July 22, 2018- Week 75. 

You are likely familiar with the term “Bucket list”, a phrase used for a list of things one wants to do before dying (kicking the bucket).  This phrase was popularized by American and British screenwriter Justin Zackham in his 2007 film, The Bucket List.  For you history buffs, there is evidence of this phrase being used as far back as 1785 in the book Unfair & Unbalanced: The Lunatic Magniloquence of Henry E. Panky.  

Okay, enough history.  So, do you have a bucket list, if so, what’s on it?  What do you still want to do before you die?  I realize this can be a very simple or complex question depending on where you are in your life journey, but time does not stop for anyone and tomorrow is never guaranteed.  I encourage you to think about those special places you want to visit, events you want to attend, traditions and memories you want to create, milestones you want to achieve, and most importantly, what you want to experience with your family and friends.  If you haven’t done so, make your bucket list now, dream big, and start planning how and when you are going to check each entry off your list!

I have many items on my bucket list, most are faith, family and fitness based.  Here are a few on my list: taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Michele Lomen Rendler, taking our first five generation picture with my dad, and riding one of the stages of the Tour De France (likely not during the race :).  But for today’s Positive Post Sunday, I’m sharing an experience I’m crossing off my list, going back to Hawaii with my mom and dad!

Michele Lomen Rendler, Karen and Rod Longpre (my sister and brother in law) and Tom Rendler (my brother) and his girlfriend Carlotta, just returned from a relaxing and enjoyable week on Maui with my mom and dad, Dana and Ken Rendler.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed all the food, surfing, cycling and site seeing, when I look deeper into our trip, what I valued most was spending quality time with my family.  Sometimes it’s the simpler things that are most precious.  Watching my mom and dad swimming in Napili Bay, taking their picture under the banyan tree in Lahaina like they first did over 50 years ago with my late grandparents and seeing videos of my dad zip lining at 82 are all priceless memories I will cherish.  

The highlight of the trip for me occurred at the Luau my mom and dad took us all to one evening.  At the beginning of the entertainment, they recognized all the newlyweds and then all those celebrating anniversaries.  My parents were recognized, in front of over 300 attendees, as the longest married couple at the Luau, 63 years this August!  They are amazing role models in so many ways, including their endless love for each other and our ever-growing family, their deep faith and abundant generosity and their humble service to others to name just a few.  We are so blessed to continue to have them in our lives.  Although I crossed this off my bucket list, I look forward to going back to one of the Hawaiian Islands with my parents again next year.

I aloha ko’u ohano a me ko’u makuwahine, a me ka makuakane.  

Aloha😎!