if i can dream...

if i can dream... 

                                           earl brown  '68

   The term, Bucket List, was made popular following the release of a Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman movie in 2007 of the same name.  Simply put, it is a wish list of things to accomplish before one's life ends, which is sometimes referenced as kicking the bucket.  

  HUH?  What's up with that? 

  The film involves two opposites who by mere chance wind up in the same hospital room.  Both patients find out their futures are limited.  As different as the two men have lived their lives, they realize they agree there are similar things they want to do before spinning off the mortal coil.  Thus, they join forces and a Bucket List of things they wish to experience was created.  

  For some, Bucket List is a pretty harsh, almost brutal euphemism.

  Perhaps Wish List or even Dream List is more palpable.   

  Last October, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) became the oldest human to reach space courtesy of billionaire Jeff Bezos.  The commander of the fictional USS Enterprise said his....dream had come true.  

   It was definitely cool to see Captain Kirk fly into space.  Pop culture meets science.  

  While some of us couldn't imagine actually going into space, others may realistically have that feat on their Bucket, Wish or Dream List.  Many POS (People Over Sixty) have numerous dreams and aspirations.  It's possible some dreams on their List are no longer obtainable because of age, time, money, or circumstances.  If that's the case, we must create new wishes or dreams that are within reach.  

  The idea is to make the goals realistic, thus, making it achievable. After all, these are achievements you want to reach before your expiration date.

  This post will share with you wishes or dreams from men and women who were interviewed just weeks ago.  They are all retired and reside in Louisville, Kentucky.  

  The first guest had what most of us would consider an out of the ordinary job.  When it comes to occupations, there are certain ones that have the perception of being more romantic or elusive than others.  Maybe they have a certain appeal to our sense of wanderlust, but, whatever it is, the occupation is different.  A job as a towboat captain would certainly be in that category.

  Captain Herman Harrington (even his name fits the job description) went up and down the Mississippi River so many times in his 42 years as a towboat captain, he can't even imagine the number of trips.

  It would be near impossible to even guess, he said.  I've been to the north end (Minnesota) and all the way to New Orleans over and over and over.  The river has very few surprises for me.

  You must have some serious adventures stored in your memory banks. 

  Yes, I suppose I do, he laughed.  Probably more adventures than I care to talk about.  One that comes to mind though is the day after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  

  Were you in New Orleans at the time?  

  Yes, we were, he recalled.  My boat was sent down the next day to help with other damaged boats.  I had never seen anything like what Katrina did.  The water surges were so huge, they lifted loaded barges right on top of the levy and it was our job to get them down.  

  You've been retired two years now. Do you miss that kind of action?

  I do and I don't, the captain said.  My family thought I identified with the river so much, I would never be able to leave it.  When I first retired, everything was more difficult, but I'm getting adjusted now.  

  Are you married?

  Yes, I am, he smiled.  My wife recently retired too.  She was an ER physician.

  Oh, wow!  You both have had your share of adrenaline rushes.   

  I guess that's true, although it all seemed normal to us, he said.  When you are on a towboat going through record breaking high water, it's truly an experience and it takes you a while to calm down when it's over.  She's had her moments over the years too.  

  What have you been doing since retirement?

  Really, not much of anything, he admitted.  I've just been doing all the things a man does when he's home all week.  That's been a first for me.  

  Have you gotten on your wife's last nerve yet?

  You might say that, he chuckled.  It's been two years now, and I think we're both finally adjusting to my being home every night.    

  What is something on your wish list?  Anything at all you wish to do?

  Yes, I'm working on quitting smoking, he replied.  Once I"ve done that, we're going to travel.  Those are the only two things I can say I truly want to do.  

  John Binkley is in his mid 60s and has spent his life being the guy that can do it all.  You know the line in the song Ghostbusters that asks, Who ya gonna call?  John's the man. 

  Painting, drywall, carpentry, whatever it takes to make extra money, I will do, he said proudly.  

  How did you learn how to do all that stuff.  People like me call people like you to get those jobs done.  

  My dad taught me everything about building and remodeling, the retired machinist said.  I worked with him for years, side by side.  Only thing I don't do is anything that can shock or electrocute you.  

  So, no electrical, but do you work on plumbing?

  I can do it, but I don't like it, he confided.  

  Why didn't you go into the construction business yourself?  You must have the skillset working with your dad all those years.  

  Well, it was really my dad's doings, John told me.  We were in the middle of a construction crunch and he told me I should find something that's bulletproof and wasn't so up and down.   

  Did you ever argue with your dad on the job?

  Every day, he laughed.  He always wanted things done his way and I was a daredevil.   

  What's something on your Bucket List, John?

  Most people might have a whole bunch of things they want to do, but I've only got one thing.  I want to go to Australia, he confessed.  I've been everywhere in my life, but I haven't been where the kangaroos live and I've got to make that trip.  

  Judy Smith is a retired registered nurse.

  Most recently, I was at the V-A Medical Center, she said.  It was my career for 42 years.  

  There's been a lot lately about animosity aimed at medical professionals.  

  I don't understand it, Judy lamented.  Nurses, doctors, even ancillary people are working under incredible circumstances.  I just wish more people would get vaccinated.  Did you ever hear of anyone who didn't believe polio was real?  Or, smallpox?  We didn't have this divisiveness over those vaccines.  

  Here in Louisville, we're starting to hear about nurses leaving the profession.

  I feel nurses are under a lot of stress, she agreed.  They do the best they can, but I certainly understand why they want to leave, especially if they aren't getting the necessary support.  

  Since you've retired, how do you spend your spare time?

  Well, I'm a huge pet lover, she admitted, so, I'm always out with my dog walking somewhere.  And, my husband and I are football and basketball fans, so we go to a lot of games.  

  What are some of your goals or wishes you would like to see happen?

  My dream is to take a trip out west, she smiled.  I want to see Grand Canyon and travel all through the west.  That's something we've never done and I really want to do that.  It's very simple.  

  Coming up: what could possibly change at the supermarket in the next 20 years; hear from some more POS and their dreams; meet a woman who lives and loves history; meet a 91 year old man still working six days a week, and: meet a man who has had a lot of bad luck in a short time.  

  And, finally, a case in point about unthinkable attitudes toward medical professionals:

  Last September, some doctors and nurses at the Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) hospital were accused of killing patients.  The accusers?  Grieving family members who don't believe Covid-19 is real.   

    HUH?  What's up with that?