By PATTIE MIHALIK

I'm not sure where the term "bucket list" originated. But we all know "bucket list" became part of our vocabulary after the 2007 hit movie by that name.While critics panned the movie, audiences loved it. I love it for two reasons: The acting of Jack Nicholson and the fact that even though it was about two men dying of cancer, in many ways it was a feel-good movie.Realizing they would die regardless of whether they stayed in bed or whether they decided to live their remaining days with gusto, the two men made a "bucket list" of things they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket.They left the cancer ward and set out to do as many things on their bucket list as they possibly could do.Some of the things on their list were what we might expect - big adventures such as jumping out of an airplane. Others things were quiet "do good" missions. Because Nicholson played the part of an uncaring, rude guy who was concerned only with taking care of Number One, his bucket list included the goal of helping a complete stranger for the good.While it was the hit 2007 movie that had many of us mentioning our own bucket list, Wikipedia claims the phrase "Bucket list" was first expounded upon in 1940 by author and adventurist John Goddard.He made what he termed his "bucket list" of things he wanted to accomplish when he was 15. He listed 127 goals he did, indeed meet, including kayaking the length of the Nile River and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.I'm not sure if Goddard actually was the first to use the term bucket list, but I am sure everyone knows the meaning of those words.I've never been the type to have much of a bucket list. The reasons are twofold. First, I've always been a contented person happy with the life I had. I didn't spend much time yearning for something else.Secondly, when I did have something I could call my short bucket list, it was so out of the realm of possibility there was no use thinking about it.I put two things in that category: photographing the fabulous wildlife on the Galapagos Islands and actually seeing the little village of Squillace near the boot of Italy where my grandparents were born.Squillace, part of the Calabrese area in southern Italy, is not a tourist destination. Guidebooks say there isn't much to do there except to see a poorer part of Italy relatively untouched by time.When I did retire and start to take an occasional trip, I kept looking for a tour that included Squillace. Never could find one, because as I said, not a lot of tourists want to go there.Well, thanks to my two daughters, I might actually get there next month. My daughter Andrea insists we don't need a tour to plan a trip there. She said we can do it ourselves. She found wonderful places to rent off the beaten path and says the three of us will be able to do it on our own, no matter what the guidebooks say.While the jury is still out on that and part of me is terrified to go into an area on our own where no one speaks English and we have be warned "we have to be careful" in that area, it looks like I might get to do my bucket list after all.It's one of those things I won't believe until we actually do it.The other thing on my short bucket list - going to the Galapagos Islands, almost happened. Almost. We even had cheap airline tickets through the eastern Airlines Travel Club. Shortly before our trip, Eastern Airlines went out of business, ending that possibility.I've checked the price of other trips there and there are way too many zeros to fit into my budget. But while I would love to see it, it's not something I yearn to do. I think I would rather do a return trip to Israel. I had no expectations when I went there with our church group but I found being in the Holy Land was life changing, so much so that I would like to do it again.There is one silly thing on my bucket list that I might get around to doing someday. I want to play the ukulele.There's a group in my area called the Suncoast Sand Fleas that gets together every month to play their ukuleles. All ability levels are welcome because it's more about having fun than about perfecting songs. Sounds like something I would like.My best friend Jeanne is always willing to join me trying new adventures, so I might talk her into going with me one of these days. We already tried belly dancing, tribal dancing and drumming so maybe ukuleles are next. Meanwhile, it's just part of my short bucket list.How about you? Do you think much about your bucket list?For inspiration, you might re-watch the movie "The Bucket List." At the very least, you'll have an enjoyable 90 minutes while you think about what's important enough to put on top of your own list.Contact Pattie Mihalik at

newsgirl@comcast.net.