It is unbelievable thinking about being 40! Well, as 2021 is approaching its end, I figure it’s a good time to list 40 things to do before I turn 40. Here it goes:

1. Travel to 40/63 provinces and cities of Vietnam. Need to spend time to list up places I’ve been to in my home country. Then, take Jon to all. Then, take Nem to all!
2. Travel to 30 countries. I’ve been to about 20+, so let’s be happy reaching the 30th country in the next 9 years, now that we’ll be travelling mostly with kid(s).
3. Teach Nem to be bilingual in English and Vietnamese.
4. Go sky diving.
5. Be home for every Tet Holiday, presumably no other pandemic happens.
6. Complete our family with baby Rowand #2.
7. Travel with my girlfriends.
8. Keep the relationships that matter to me, and let go of those that don’t.
9. Donate hair.
10. Spend family time with Vietnam mom and dad.
11. Have my art and craft station.
12. Water the entrepreneurial seeds in Jon’s head.
13. Have a decent-size greenhouse.
14. Compost.
15. Learn a new language.
16. Make bread.
17. Read at least 20 books a year.
18. Take a meditation course.
19. Take (hopefully at least) one no-kid trip with Jon a year.
20. Take mom to a destination she picks.
21. Spend Christmas time with the West Coast Rowands.
22. Own a car.
23. Visit Grand Canyon National Park.
24. See Matt Franco’s magic show.
25. Keep my blog going: one post a month.
26. Get to know Jon’s biological father.
27. Adopt a pet.
28. Volunteer.
29. Take a floral class.
30. Build a “take a plant, leave a plant” station.
31. Grow vegetables.
32. Be in a leadership position.
33. Earn a TESOL certificate or degree.
34. Translate a book.
35. Foster a child.
36. Get an eye surgery to remove glasses.
37. Relive our first date @ 798 Art Zone in Beijing.
38. Have a side gig.
39. Finish my peony cross stitch.
40. Host a plant-related event.