Brett Turnbull’s Bucket List

This past weekend I had the pleasure of babysitting my godson and cousin, Brett Turnbull. He’s nine and he’s awesome. If you’ve never read the story of this year’s best school photo, I’ve placed it here for you, and I suggest you do it now. It’s ok. We’ll wait. Let us know when you’re finished.

Ok, you’re back. So Brett and I had a lot of car time together this weekend because we’re both very popular and very busy. On one of our treks together, Brett sat quietly in deep thought for a good 10 minutes before turning to me and saying: “I’m really glad I’m not afraid of airplanes anymore.”

Me: Oh yah?
Brett: Well, I mean, I’m not afraid of engine failure, because that only happens when you run out of gas, but like, I’m still afraid of the Taliban.
Me: Right.
Brett: I mean, I’m really glad that we decided to kill Osama bin Laden, but it just gives the Taliban more reason to do things…
Me: Sure.
Brett: …and I’ll just be really glad when we get the whole Taliban. Kelly, 9/11 changed everything. Sidenote: Brett’s birth month is August. Year, 2002.
Me: Well you know buddy, we really shouldn’t let the things that scare us keep us from doing what we really want to do. I’m scared of things all the time. But I know being scared isn’t a good enough reason to not do something. Sidenote: This is great advice until he’s 17 and the thing he wants to do is heroin and the fear he has to overcome is of needles.
Brett: I know. I mean, how else am I going to complete my bucket list?

As I’m sure you’ll agree, this conversation caused all of my maternal instincts (the very few that I have) to melt. How adorable is this kid? How deeply does he listen to the news and the conversations going on around him? Ilovehimsomuch. It wasn’t until later that I found out that “bucket list” wasn’t just a euphemism for the things he wanted to accomplish in life. There is a real-life list, written on yellow legal paper in cursive handwriting that only a nine-year-old could find professional. And it goes like this:

1. skydive
2. win a eating compotition
3. be on T.V
4. ride an elephant
5. climb a mountain
6. get in the NHL
7. fly a plane
8. become rich
9. be a model male model
10. make a website

Brett Turnbull, I love you. You are one of the most fantastic kids I have ever met. I have no doubt you can accomplish anything and everything on this list that you put your mind to, and I hope I can be along for the great journey. I just have one request – let’s add “Get the Taliban.”