{"id":865,"date":"2023-02-16T18:58:32","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T18:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nobodyknowslarrycamp.com\/?p=865"},"modified":"2023-02-16T20:52:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T20:52:32","slug":"emptying-the-bucket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nobodyknowslarrycamp.com\/emptying-the-bucket\/","title":{"rendered":"Emptying the Bucket"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

In January of 1980 I began a semester of college in Hawaii. I lived in a dorm, and my roommate was my brother Ron; and we didn’t know anyone else.<\/h3>\n

We spent five months in Hawaii. During that time, we made several close friends, many from Hawaii, but also, a number from many South Pacific islands. As I heard these friends talk with pride about their homes, a bucket list item was created. I knew that one day, I wanted to visit these islands my friends spoke so passionately about. Though their were many, I particularly wanted to visit New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-10-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ background_image=”872″ background_image_position=”center center” enable_bg_scale=”true” background_image_loading=”default” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” color_overlay=”#000000″ advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.5″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” parallax_bg=”true” parallax_bg_speed=”fast” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text]\n

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done, than regret the things I’ve not done.”<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]So yeah, it took 43 years but I finally removed this major bucket list item. My best friend Judy and I visited New Zealand, and then boarded a cruise that took us to Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. These islands were indeed beautiful, and the people exhibited the aloha spirit I have always felt in Hawaii. One morning, I was awakened by what sounded like singing. I opened my balcony door and walked out and saw a welcoming group performing. I quickly went up to the top deck of our ship where I could see these proud Samoans conveying their gratitude to us for visiting their home. As I watched these men and women welcome us with song and dance, my eyes did sweat a bit. I recalled the discussions I’d had with my college friends those many years ago, and how they spoke with such pride of their homes. I felt it then, and I certainly felt it that morning in Pago Pago.<\/p>\n

So if you have a bucket list of your own, make it happen. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait 43 years.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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