Death of wish-list author fuels online "bucket lists"

CANBERRA (Reuters Life!) - The accidental death of an American author who wrote the adventure travel guide "100 Things to Do Before You Die" has prompted an online rush to draw up "bucket lists" -- catalogues of activities to do while alive.

Dave Freeman, an advertising executive who co-authored the 1999 book with friend Neil Teplica, died on Aug 17 at the age of 47 after hitting his head in a fall at his California home.

The book spawned a publishing genre of wish-lists but ironically Freeman's family said he had only managed to tick off about half of the recommended journeys in his book before he died. Combined, Teplica and Freeman had sampled most of them.

In "100 Things to Do Before You Die" the authors write: "This life is a short journey. How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?"

Suggestions included running with the bulls in Pamplona in Spain, taking a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti and attending the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

The concept hit the big screen this year when Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman played two terminally ill men fulfilling a wish-list in the Hollywood movie "The Bucket List".

It also sparked a wide variety of other lists of must-dos before you die, such as the travel book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die", the book "1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" as well as the essential movie, books and food lists.

Remarking on the irony of Freeman's death, bloggers suggested what should appear on their own wish-lists, ranging from travel to religion.

"If this isn't a reminder of how short life is, I don't know what else could drive that point home," wrote Sarah Pauling, 32.

"I could be doing so much more with my life!With that in mind, I'm going to come up with my own list of things I want to accomplish before I die, and set out to achieve them ... Sometimes you just gotta live like you were dying."

Her list included writing a book, learning how to surf and planting a herb garden.

Blogger Alana Morgan said Freeman's sudden death also inspired her. "While a "bucket list" is usually a "check if off" kind of list, mine seems to be more of a list of things I hope to be able to do right up until the fateful day."

Another blogger, Heather, said she had decided to write her own list in honor of Freeman which included going on an African safari, meeting Keith Urban and having three to five children.

"I loved the movie "The Bucket List" and ever since then I have been thinking about the things that I want to do before I die. I am only 22 years old so I have a long life ahead of me (I pray)," she wrote.

However not everyone was convinced that life needed a list.

"Let this be a lesson to all of us - don't tempt fate! I will never make a 100 list, bucket list or any other list of things to do before I die. It almost assures you of an unfortunate accident!" wrote blogger Teddy.

(Editing by Miral Fahmy)