List #50: Ten Amazing Memories

This week's Listicles topic was suggested by Ducky of Batcrap Crazy: Ten Amazing Memories of the Not-So-Distant Past. It's a great topic, though I feel like I can't properly do it justice in a short list, so I'll link to the full story when I can, so you can read more if you like. :)

Here's my list of amazing memories, in no particular order:

1. The birth of my son. I was one of those people who had an awesome birth experience, with nearly everything going the way I'd hoped. (Feel free to hate me if you had a crappy labour &/or birth) Here's the story if you want to read more. Recommended if you're pregnant now & want to hear a story that won't scare you. :)
2. The WTO protests in Seattle. (not that recent, I know) Being in a stadium with tens of thousands of other people united against the anti-democratic excesses of globalization that threatened workers' rights & the environment was incredible. Knowing that thousands of other people share your beliefs is one thing, but being with them in person is so much more powerful.
3. Biking around the grounds of Versailles in 2009. We took a Fat Tire Bicycle Tour from Paris, hopped the train to Versailles, stopped at the market to gather picnic provisions, then rode around the grounds, stopping for a wine, cheese, bread, sausage & pastry picnic on the giant reflecting pool. Once we had a good wine buzz on, we did a guided audio tour of the palace.
4. Going to the Vancouver International Children's Festival twice this year. (More on it here & here) I've performed there once, but never went as a child because we didn't live here until I was too old for it. Going with my son was an incredible experience & I look forward to it again next year!
5. Biking to Saltspring & Galiano Islands. I love going place under my own power & it feels like so much more of an accomplishment & so much farther away when it's an island, somehow. :)
6. Touring Hampton Court (home of Henry VIII) with friends, taking a canal boat cruise there & back, including lots of cider. The whole time we were in London was pretty awesome (except how sore my feet got) because of our incredible hosts, Charity & Mark.
7. Learning to walk on stilts. Okay, this one's not exactly in the recent past--2003--but it was so much fun. I liked it so much, that I kept doing it & I still do. Check out my site to see more... If you ever need a three metre tall performer for an event, let me know... :)
8. Getting married. I might as well throw that in, since it's slightly more recent than #7. I was interviewed about weddings on Poor Bride & talked about what we did here.
9. Getting my first official paid writing job. I've been contributing to VancouverMom.ca for over a year now. Here's my latest article on SweetSalt Bakery, a new business in my neighbourhood.
10. Sprout walking for the first time.

Hope you enjoyed my list! What are some of your favourite not-so-distant memories?


Why Monday lists? Reading the lovely Chloe's blog, Tea Swamp Park, I found an idea I had to 'steal': a list of all her Halloween costumes, with quite a few photos. She got the idea from Hula Seventy's List Project. I've decided to do the weekly lists for a year that Hula Seventy is doing. 

Tea Swamp Park & Hula Seventy are not the only ones doing lists, however. Click on the Listicles badge to the left to check out NorthWestMommy's list & 'assignment' for next week.