Friday Playdate » Blog Archive » I’ll have the haggis, please

Last night, Leigh emailed me with a Very Serious Question about my life list: “Ok seriously … order haggis in Scotland? Surely you could find another reason to go to Scotland … maybe golf?”

She has a point. Although really, my plan is just to order the haggis. I’m going to make Wade eat it. I’m adventurous, but not that adventurous.

Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Daveybot, Flickr

Wade and I have always talked about going to Great Britain; sometimes we plan to go to London and sometimes to the Lake Country, and sometimes to Scotland. And then we look at our calendars and realize that tonight’s football game is at 6:00, not at 7:30, and that we’ll need to get dinner on the table in there somewhere and get homework done and …

You know how it goes.

And that’s precisely the idea behind the life list — it’s so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of the everyday, to while away the hours sorting laundry or picking up toys or sitting in carpool line or doing the eleven million other things that have to get done before it’s time to go to bed and get some sleep and then do it all again tomorrow. The life list is all the things I find myself daydreaming about while I’m pairing up hundreds of wee sweat socks and listening to a detailed plot summary of Star Wars: Episode Four and wondering which one Episode Four is again and why there’s always an extra sock and how many hours until the day is over.

Instead of daydreaming about all those great things I wish I were doing, I’m writing them down. And doing them, or at least as many as I can manage, which feels like a big undertaking on the days when I only barely manage to have a shower and eat some lunch. Which is a lot of the time, honestly. But on the days when I’m overwhelmed by the socks and the deadlines and the rush to carpool, the life list is a way to stop and breathe and plan something bigger and better and different.

What about you — what’s on your life list? What are the big — and small — things you’ve always dreamed about doing? And, more importantly, how are you going to actually do them? What can you do in the next month to make the list a little shorter? Start now and see where you are when October comes. I promise you won’t be sorry.

Hat tip to the very mighty Maggie Mason for the inspiration. Maggie is crossing things off her life list, and has challenged her readers to do the same. Are you in?

16 Comments so far

Get thee to Scotland! I lived there in 2003, and it’s still my favorite place on Earth (and that’s after visiting 70-something countries, too!). Also, haggis is quite tasty, I must say. Though every time I stop to think what’s in it, I wretch a bit in my mouth!

Vegetarian Haggis is Haggis from lentils. Its surprisingly delicious and not at all made from guts. Available most everywhere that the guts version is.

Scotland is so beautiful. (As are London and the Lake District). It would be a really kid friendly trip too…assumming you have all made your way through Harry Potter…you can ride the VERY.SAME.TRAIN. and everything up around St. Andrews…Oh! and Loch Ness.

Now, I want to go on a trip.

another american who resided in scotland here, and yes, the haggis actually isn’t as scary as you think it might be. i recommend at least trying a bite before sliding the plate over to wade… you might be suprised. it’s an amazingly beautiful country, definitely get there when you can. and as for my life list? yes… i’m working on it, slowly, but i am working on it.

The Lake District is one of my favorite spots on earth. Hope you get to go-and SOON! You’ll love it.

Scotland is AMAZING. And haggis tastes like sausage!

On my parent’s list was for me and my sister to visit all 50 states. As of summer 08, that was accomplished…now it’s my sons turn to go to all 50 states…he has currently been to 5 (not bad for not being 2 yet)!!

Oh Scotland is such a lovely place - I visited two years ago and would love to back. I also love the life list - I may have to sit down and think about what needs to be on mine.

I don’t have a bucket list … but I *have* been to Scotland! Blaine and I spent one evening in the coolest little pub near the Royal Mile in Edinburgh …. I totally want to go back some day!

I like your life list very much. It has no scuba-diving or jumping off bridges or other tiring things.

I was in the Lake District just a couple of days ago - it’s less than an hour’s drive from me. And it was lovely.

I’m working on a list. I turn 30 next year and I’m working on a list of 30 things to do before I turn 31.

Please start using the good china. Maybe start with the special breakfast on the special dishes. I can’t think of anyone more important or worthy of the good stuff than your family.

Haggis actually isn’t that bad. I thought it would be completely disgusting… but if you don’t think about what its made from, it just tastes like meat. Ever had scrapple (sorry if you’ve never even heard of it… its a PA thing I’m pretty sure)? Its similar in taste.

I definitely have a life list, and Scotland is definitely on it!

lol. I made an americanized haggis last year (in the crockpot… ;-0), after spending way too much time trying to decipher a box of innards I got from the fancy-pants butcher to impress my Scottish relative.

and then I Cometted the sink. Twice.

I haven’t had haggis, but I did eat blood sausage in Scotland, and it was actually good! Haggis might also be better than it’s reputation.
Oh, and do go to Bath, it is such a pretty town. Besides tea in the pump room, add onto your list going to the baths. You can’t go into the original Roman baths, but you can go to a spa next door with a giant hot mineral-water pool on the roof. Everyone is in a suit, but otherwise you will feel very Roman!

I should start writing the list down. A and I have one, it includes more trips to England, Germany to see places that have the family name on them, and NYC together (though hopefully that one will be taken care of next year when I go to BlogHer and we go out a little early to do some of it together).

I’ve done some of the things that were on my list. Paris, Venice, giant swans in Switzerland. I just want to do them all with the husband now, maybe even the kid. Just to have them be part of my perfect memories too.

I am the lucky wife of a Scotsman - and have eaten haggis. It tastes like meatloaf - it’s fine! It’s a perfect excuse to go - whatever gets you there! Edinburgh is fab - walkable, affordable, and friendly. Everything you want to see and do is within a few square miles. It’s beautiful, but I AM biased! You can easily do day trips to the Borders or a 2-day to theLake district. Email me if you want help planning an itinerary!

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