The Someday List Read Online Free Page A

tonight. Some of you traveled from
the opposite coast to be here with me. Some of you altered plans
to be here. Some of you had to work financial miracles or request
time off from work to join me, and for all of that, I'm grateful"
    She extended her hand toward Patrick and he handed her a
brown leather book that she raised in the air. "This is one of my
first journals. In it, on about the tenth page, is a map for my life
that I laid out eleven years ago. I was still wet behind the ears,
thinking I could do anything. I was full of optimism and pride,
with little reason to doubt myself. I titled this list, `Ten Things to
Do Before I Die.
    "The beautiful thing is, I accomplished every single wish on
my list before this terminal diagnosis was confirmed in early
June. Everything.

    "I have traveled to Australia and Italy, been on an African safari, and swam with the dolphins. I've served in the Peace Corps,
vacationed in Hawaii and Fiji, and married my soul mate. I was
allowed to co-parent three godchildren who fortunately didn't
have to live under my roof and endure my quirkiness full time:'
    Jillian laughed and blew a kiss to the three young girls, who
were standing nearby with their parents. "I landed my dream job,
shooting photos for National Geographic, and met Nelson Mandela
and Oprah while on assignment;' she said. "My favorite trip? To
the Holy Land, where I bathed in God's presence.
    "When I received the news that this cancer had gone undetected
for so long that it was in the advanced stages, I pulled out this
journal and re-read this list, which I drafted on my twenty-fifth
birthday. I couldn't believe it when I checked off everything on
it.
    "Isn't that amazing, you guys? How many of us can say we've
actually achieved some of our dreams, let alone all of them?"
    Jillian paused to let the power of that reality sink in. She waved
her finger. "I am human though," she said. `After I thanked God
for granting me these blessings, I asked a huge favor. Couldn't I
just change the title of the list from the `Ten Things to Do Before
I Die' to something else? Like, `Ten Things to Do Before I Reach
40'? or `Ten Things to Do Before My Hair Turns Gray'? I mean,
come on, he didn't have to take it so literal!"
    She chuckled, freeing everyone else to embrace the joke. The
room erupted in laughter.
    "I invited you here this evening to thank you for giving me the
gift of you. Of your friendship. And your love."
    Jillian searched the group and spoke to several people specifically. "Rachelle-we made mud pies and played jump rope and,
before there was such a thing as AIDS, pricked our fingers and pressed them together so that we could be blood sisters. You
kept my first secrets, helped me through my first broken heart,
and even suffered punishment on my behalf rather than tell your
mother that I was the one who ran through the living room and
broke her favorite lamp:'

    Rachelle nodded and smiled, despite the tears spilling down
her cheeks. How had she forgotten all of that? How had they let
time, and other people, separate them?
    "Amina, you guided me through college when I was this sheltered little girl who didn't realize there was a world outside of
Philadelphia. Yolanda, just how did you snag our high school
football star before I could?"
    Another round of laughter filled the room, mingling with the
flow of tears.
    "Okay, okay, I guess I did pretty well myself. I'm keeping my
man.
    Jillian turned toward Patrick, who stood off to the side of the
stage, watching her bask in the love radiating from the crowd.
"Patrick, you have been the earth and wind to my fire; the ebony
to my ivory; the true definition of a helpmate and soul mate. I
love you"
    She turned back to her friends. "I do have one request of each
of you: Develop your own lists. Look at your lives and consider
where you need to make adjustments. Life is way too short to take
for granted or live halfheartedly. Do what you dream. God