It started with a simple prompt: “Before I die, I want to …”
Stacia Costa wrote it in white on a chalkboard she placed outside her apartment building at 3rd Street and Hermosa Avenue last weekk.
It was a challenge of sorts.
The Redondo Beach library clerk filled in the first answer: “…be a grandma.” The rest was up to her neighbors and visitors to Fiesta Hermosa over the long Memorial Day weekend.
The people did not disappoint.
Costa’s chalkboard filled up quickly. After an hour or so, she added large poster boards with lines for more answers. People kept posting. Costa added more spaces. Eventually, she was relegated to putting up simple lined notebook paper. Costa estimates she’s received more than 350 responses so far.
“I was shocked at people,” Costa said. “Some of it was kind of deep.”
What people vow to do with their time left on god’s green earth varies.
There are, of course, the materialists: “Be a billionaire!,” “Go on a safari,” “Win the lottery!”
In every crowd, the smart alecks: “Become a K-pop idol!,” “Talk to the dead,” “Watch Gen-Z save democracy.”
But, there is also life-affirming, serious stuff: “I want my mom to get a kidney,” “Get over my fear of heights,” “See my daughter love herself and be truly happy.”
What was most striking for Costa, who had seen a similar thing done at a Ketchikan, Alaska blueberry festival, was how incredibly soulful many of the responses were.
“Sure, some of them have to do with things or money,” she said, “but many are just about how people want to conduct themselves for the rest of their lives.”
What Costa learned about her neighbors is many desire to live a full life and let go of resentments. They want to be the best version of themselves and live in the moment. They want to bless their families with a beautiful life of happiness and find true peace. Some want to forgive themselves. Some want to mend relationships.
In all, said Costa,…
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