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Every year in the fall, my friends and I would get together and create a collage of things we wanted to accomplish within 5 years or a year.

It was nice to put things in perspective, anything from re-doing your bathroom to becoming more organized.

I really enjoyed that gathering but it's been awhile since we have done that.

Now comes, life's list -- things you want to accomplish before you check out, so to speak. Mi amiga just finished putting hers together.

Life's lists are becoming popular these days. Lots of people are doing them so I figure maybe this can be a new way for me to outline my priorities for the rest of my life.

Here's my life's list -- though I think I'll be revising it from time to time as I check things off and maybe add new ones.

1. Run a half marathon, followed by a full marathon.
I love to run, especially hills and trails. Not crazy about flat roads, but I will do it, if there is not a hill in sight. There's this Nike Marathon in the Bay Area. It raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My 8-year-old Godson, Jeremiah, is a Leukemia survivor so I want to do something to recognize him. Plus, there's something about running, relaxing and solitude. It's my time. Plus, if I can log in 12-16 miles a week, then what else can I accomplish?

2. Do the Mud Run
As you can see, physical fitness is one important item to me. But this is more out of sheer craziness. I have friends and a jarhead of a spouse who does it. Every year, I tell myself I am going to do it. I haven't yet. It's not the running that scares me. The obstacles, the obstacles! But I gotta do it. Otherwise, I'll be spending the rest of my  life wondering, what if?

3. Further my education
College was a wonderful, unforgettable time in my life. Earning my degrees were special milestones in my life. And I need to continue. Of course, I need to do that as I manage work and family life. So the bigger task is managing school with my full-time career and family life. But, hey, I am driven. I mean, MBA Olivia or Ph.D Olivia sound really nice together. It will take time but I got to dedicate myself to it!

4. Improve mi casita
I love my home. It was built in the 1950s and has a large lot. Older homes have such characters. There is something about older casas that can take my breath away. Maybe it's all the hidden or untold history that the walls have seen. I don't want to lose that beauty. I do want to add some more square footage for an extra bedroom and an extra entertainment room. I don't want a new home to do this. It can be accomplished in my home. Plus, I need to build a pool. My boys love to swim!

5. Story-telling family history
Family is a priority in my life. Besides work, it's my family. I just need to make sure that I am constantly sharing past stories of my family so my boys know their history. They only  met one great-grandparent so they need to be reminded of their roots.

6. Take my boys to Washington, DC when they are older
I think it's important to connect history through real-life's experiences and what better way to teach my boys about our constitution, Supreme Court, Arlington National Cemetery than to take them there. I want to do it when they are in their pre-teens or teen years so they can have a better understanding of it all.

7. Write a Chica Lit book
I am a big fan of the word so it makes sense to have this desire to want to write a book. I would love to write a funny or heart-wrenching piece on some Latino experience, maybe it's about Latina chicas on a new venture or maybe it's about one particular Hispanic family and their own challenges and special moments. Or maybe it's just a book of Chicana poetry -- another favorite item for me. It's on my list to do!

8. Visit the Pyramids
I learned so much about my family's heritage and ancestors through my Chicano history classes in college. Again, in hand with the family trip to DC, I want to visit the pyramids and imagine what life was life for the Aztecs and other indigenous people in the motherland of my great-grandparents. It's more of a personal journey to learn of my family's history.

Well, that's all I can think of right now... What's on your life's list? Got any tips for me?

I recently celebrated my 35th birthday with mi familia and friends. It was a nice, low-key celebration, very much different from my previous birthday parties.
But this chica is now 35 and recovering from a few glasses of vino or tequila shots, well, it's not that easy anymore. :-)
So I opted for a nice dinner and it was very special to me.
Thought I'd share some photos of it...

I was fortunate enough to attend Dolores Huerta's Birthday celebration last week. Dolores turned 77 April 10. Many people gathered at the event, which was held at the Labor Hall in northeast Bakersfield.
I was in the company of my husband Julio, mis compadres Eddie and Sofia Ronquillo, and my friends, Mary Lou Fulton, David Figueroa and his partner Jim Foster.
This was such a beautiful ceremony, more touching than anything.
Dolores got up and shared her past stories including getting jailed for protesting, along with a few of her kids... :-)
She also talked about different people whom she met along the way through her crusades for the rights of farmworkers, immigrants and women.
She talked about David, who is part of Segunda Juventud AARP, but is very much involved in many other things in the Los Angeles area. (David and Dolores and her family helped bring Eva Longoria to Bakersfield; David and Dolores also worked together on the Carlos Santana concert in LA -- the concert we gave tickets out to our MAS readers)
Dolores also thanked Jack Brigham, a retired BC political science professor who also happened to inspire me on politics when I was a student there many years ago. She thanks two farmworker families whose fathers and mothers played a big role during the early United Farm Worker days.
The names went on. But this wasn't about thanking people to be "PC." This was about thanking people who meant something to her and it came from the heart.
I always enjoy attending community events, but this one felt more like a family event. It was very special that way.
Her children, now grown and successful people in our community, stood in the crowd as they watched their mother speak.
They brought out a cake with 77 candles for her to blow out. Old friends and colleagues were present, not for the recognition of being there, but just to celebrate the birthday of a Latina who has been a role model for many of us.
I am still in awe of her.
Here she is at 77 and is still as energetic, passionate and charismatic as she was as a young firebrand.
Musician Richie Perez played some tunes for her, as well as the popular local group Rock-A-Mole.
The group got Dolores going. She was on the dance floor, dancing to cumbias and old school R&B. Some of her children, including Lori de Leon, joined her.
Check out my video:
But as I watched Dolores and her grown children, I couldn't help but think of my own grandma who is now in her 80s and very much full of life like Dolores.
We often try to hold celebrations for her, too. When I go to them, I can always feel the love for her.
That's how I felt last week.
Dolores may be a popular public figure out there in the community and even at the national level, but when it comes right down to it, she is still a loving mom, close friend, and special woman.
I feel honored to have been invited to celebrate that day with her.
Happy Birthday Dolores.
You are one special woman.

Spring is here, and that means there are so many special events happening close to home.
Many of our students are graduating from high school. A good number of them is getting word on their college of choice and their scholarships.
Many families are planning how to recognize Mama since Mother’s Day is around the corner.
That’s not counting the local events:
Pepe Aguilar will be here in late April, and Wasco and Bakersfield are among the cities preparing for the annual Relay for Life events in late April and early May.
This made me think about how can our readers share in their celebrations, causes and moments.
We decided to give away a pair of tickets to Tejano superstar Pepe Aguilar’s concert. How can you enter? Look for the ad in the April 13 issue of MAS. Keyword: Blog about it.
Yes, we are asking readers to visit to our web site and blog about Pepe Aguilar as a way to enter a contest to win a pair of tickets.
Blogging is a online journal where you write about what is important to you. You can also add pictures or video or audio to your blog. I encourage many of you to think about trying it. Hey, there’s an incentive here!
Also, we will be preparing to honor our dear mothers and proud graduates in our future issues of MAS. But we need your help.
We are asking readers to submit photos and dedications honoring their mothers (it can be your abuela, tia or nina, too) and graduates (whether they are in high school, college, middle school or elementary).
There is no charge to have your loved ones’ photo and dedications published in our magazine. We think it’s a great community service to our readers.
How to do it?
Just log on to our web site at www.masbakersfield.com, create a profile and post a story or blog and you’re done!
You can also drop me a line at ogarcia@masbakersfield.com if you are having trouble.
So please send your stories/blogs/dedications. I look forward to reading them!