Some of our favorite authors have been inspired by Robin Gold's new novel Once Upon a List to think about their own bucket lists. Yesterday we heard from Kristina Riggle and today Susan McBride, author of The Cougar Club and Little Black Dress shares hers!
The List-maker of St. Louis
I’m one of those folks who have always made lists.
Grocery lists, to-do lists, Christmas gift lists, you name it. I like to keep track of whatever’s passing through my brain since so much always seems to be going on in there, and I’m afraid that, if I don’t jot something down, I’ll forget it.
At some point long ago, I’m sure I made a list of “what I want to do when I grow up,” at the top of which was surely “be a lawyer or a teacher.” I didn’t exactly become either, although I do teach writing workshops on occasion so maybe that counts.
During college, the goals I set for myself seemed simple enough: graduate, write novels, become published, and be successful enough that no second job is required.
As I got older, I had other hopes, too, but they felt too tenuous to write down, namely that I meet The One, fall deeply in love, and get married; that I have a baby before it’s too late.
Luckily, I met my husband when I was 41. He made the “fall in love and get married” part happen, but I seriously wondered if I’d ever get to the “have a baby” part after a breast cancer diagnosis at age 42. I was already late in the game for baby-making and then treatment via surgery and radiation put everything else off. (And, by the way, “get boob cancer” was never on my to-do list but that just goes to show how life loves to thumb its nose at us sometimes and say, “Na-na-na-na-na, I’m in control!”)
In those years after while I regained my health—and my sanity—my list was quickly pared down to the most basic things: be well, be happy, and write the best books possible. So imagine my surprise when I found myself pregnant at 47. It turned my world upside-down again (but in a MUCH better way than the boobal trauma!)
And suddenly, I realized that my goals had more to do with baby Emily than myself (she’s due in the next month or so). What I want for her comes down to these things:
- Be healthy
- Be happy
- Know that you’re loved
- Learn that smart is way better than pretty
- Stay curious
- Read a lot
- Stand up for yourself
- Be nice to your mother.
I’ll let you know how this list works out, oh, in another ten years down the road.
Susan McBride is the author of Little Black Dress and The Cougar Club. She’s also a five-year breast cancer survivor and was recently named “Survivor of the Year” by the St. Louis affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure because of her efforts to spread awareness and educate through her writing and public speaking. Her next fiction title, The Truth About Love and Lightning, will be released by William Morrow Paperbacks in February of 2013. For more scoop on Susan and Baby Emily, visit her website.
Robin Gold's Once Upon a List is available now as an ebook, to find out more, click here.
I'm so excited for Susan! She deserves all the happiness she can get!
Posted by: bermudaonion (Kathy) | June 01, 2012 at 06:51 AM
Number 4 is perfect! Whenever I catch myself praising my daughter for her beauty (and, well, she is gorgeous, her mother says modestly) I remind myself to also tell her how smart she is! And strong, and funny, and helpful, and....
Posted by: Kristina Riggle | June 01, 2012 at 04:32 PM
Nice list! It's amazing how much energy is spent trying to be special, wonderful, famous . . . when all the really important things are so much more extraordinary in their simplicity. Have fun!
. . . and I've already noticed that you'll be teaching the "be nice to your mother" part by example ;-)
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | June 01, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Aw, thanks, Kathy! You're so sweet!
Kristina, well, I've no doubt your daughter is gorgeous and smart. She surely takes after her mother. :-)
Mary, yes, simple really is best! And being nice to my mom is usually very easy (although we have our moments!). ;-)
Posted by: Susan McBride | June 02, 2012 at 12:12 PM