Turns Out My Fairy Godmother Wears a Clean-Suit

My Life List


Attend San Francisco’s Black and White Ball.

As many of you know, about a year ago I started writing down 100 things I’d like to do before I die — peacefully, in my sleep, of extreme old age. I called it my Mighty Life List, and I wrote it because I wanted to start dreaming bigger.


Taste 1,000 Fruits.

I was embarrassed by the list’s audacity, worried some of you might think I was cheesy, or maybe overreaching if I told you my plans. That’s silly, of course, because I’ve noticed over the years that you guys are nice. You make it lovely to write here every day, and doing that has helped me realize I want to spend more time celebrating, and less time slogging.


Cross the Canadian Border.

I made the list, changed things here and there, gradually started crossing things off, and then my life took a turn for the surreal.


Make 1,000 lovely things.

Intel has decided to sponsor my life list.

I told you your jaw would hit the floor. I’ve known for months, and my brain is still catching up. So! How did this happen? I’ll tell you the full story in a couple of days, but here’s the gyst.

Intel started this Sponsors of Tomorrow campaign, it’s the one you’ve seen on The Tonight Show, and the one with the geek rockstar ads that have been making rounds online. As part of the campaign, they asked me to choose ten things I thought I could accomplish in the next three months, and then told me to go do them — they’d pick up the check.

Cut to me at the Oscar podium dipping Halle Barry and kissing her full on the mouth.

And so, Mighty Girl is about to get more interesting, and slightly more frantic. My designer friend Helen Jane Hearn came out of blog-design retirement to help me with a beloved new look for Mighty Girl, which will launch Wednesday. I will not be sleeping between now and then.

Next week, I leave for Puerto Rico to swim with bioluminescent plankton. In between I’m taking tap lessons with John Kloss, Founder of Stepology and patron saint of patience.

I need a nap, but I couldn’t be happier. I’m the stupid kind of happy, the let-the-toddler-eat-an-entire-bar-of-chocolate kind of happy. And here’s what’s happening in my head:

In my head all of you are with me in some ludicrous warehouse space, screaming, jumping up and down, blowing celebratory horns, and ducking champagne corks. This Very Good Thing that’s happening, it’s happening because of you. So thank you.

Cheers.

Published

206 thoughts on “Turns Out My Fairy Godmother Wears a Clean-Suit”

  1. Congrats! This is such great news, and I am thrilled for you. Can’t wait to follow the action!

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  2. CONGRATULATIONS! That is so AMAZING…I am so glad to be following your blog so I can live vicariously through you! You inspired me to write my own list a while back, mine is “101 things to do before I die”…it’s so nice that dreams really do come true!!! 🙂

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  5. You know what? You are absolutely the person who should get this. You and your list are an inspiration. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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  7. I was just at the Angelica in NYC waiting for Whatever Works to start, and my friend Kristi leans over and says, I wonder what Maggie’s big news is? And I said, I KNOW! And though I feel like a nut nut writing a comment to someone I don’t know – I have to say congrats. Cause the NYC girls think you are one cool lady. Oprah would be proud!

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  8. Hoooray! that is so totally awesome and I’m jumping up and down for you from over here! Can’t wait to read about it all!

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  10. This is ridiculous. I can’t believe it either. Woohoo for you! If it were my list, I’d be having them figure out how to get me in with the Dalai Lama…

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  13. That is so RAD!!! Congrats & I can’t wait to follow along … I have started my own albeit very short list. A grand idea & thank you for the inspiration! Yay!

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  16. As if I needed more reasons to read your site every day!

    Today was really not going well, lots of things not going as expected, many unproductive hours, but reading this news turned the day around and made me happy: happy for you, happy for me (I’ll get to read about your experiences), and happy generally, just enjoying the proof that sometimes things work out in unexpected and delightful ways. Count me in as a reveler in the virtual warehouse space of celebration!

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  20. Maggie, I’ve been reading your blog for years, and you always seem to make the most beautiful things happen around you. I am so happy for you! Also, if you’re taking applications, I would love your help getting from a city college into Northwestern to finish my bachelor’s degree.

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  23. Maggie you so deserve this! Thanks for inspiring so many of us! I can’t wait to see what you pick to cross off your list over the next 90 days! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

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  25. Wow, wow, wow. That is incredible. Way to go Intel!

    I keep reading through the list thinking of which ones I hope you pick. I’m sad that it’s past spring and the fruit trees aren’t in bloom any more, because I would have loved to see what kind of party you would have thrown with that kind of budget. I hope you get the portrait done, because I’d love to see it, along with the one of your grandmother. And I hope you go to Antarctica. 😀 Because really, if someone else is picking up the tab? That’s the one that’s going to take boatloads of money that would be hard to justify otherwise. But mostly I can’t wait to see what you pick and how much you enjoy it. What a crazy three months it’s going to be!

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  27. Oh my gosh. I started a life list just a few weeks ago because of yours, since I wanted to dream bigger too. Congratulations! You’re an amazing writer and this couldn’t have happened to a more lovely lady.

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  30. The view in your head? that’s absoLUTEly what I’m doing – jumping up and down for you.
    Wow – I can’t wait to read about it. You go, girl!

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  38. Unbelievable – how absolutely fantastic!

    Are you going to write a $1M cheque to charity?

    Could you just imagine!

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  39. What a testament to loving one’s self enough to believe in possibility and to watch it manifest itself in ways you never could have imagined. You’re mighty, indeed. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

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  41. I am so excited to read more about how this happened and what 10 you picked! And, yes, pictures please.

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  43. I cried. Two tears actually rolled down my cheeks. Then I read it aloud to my husband and he welled up, too. Holy crap! It’s fantastic!!

    Maggie, I’ve been reading your blog for a long time, but I’ve never commented. We met when Bryan was taking Hank (8 months old??) to swim lessons and my son was in the class at the other end of the pool. I’m so thrilled for you and I can’t wait to see what you choose! Have a ball!!

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  45. Yes Maggie! Yes! They picked the perfect person for this. Not only will you throw yourself into it but you will record it with accuracy and humour. Just thrilled for you and vicariously, for us your readers.

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  46. Congrats! Your life list is an inspiration and it will be really cool to hear about your “10 things” experience.

    I’m curious – where is the church made out of bones? Is it near Prague?

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  48. That’s a really cool idea. Now you have “Intel inside” your blog ;-). If these are the kinds of partnerships they’re starting to strike up, well then maybe I can look at them with new eyes.

    Maybe you can do a little dancin Matt video once you’ve learned to tap?

    Have a LOT of fun. Can’t wait to watch it unfold.

    Hat’s off, Intel. Not bad.

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  50. …sadly it’s a bit hot to go there for the next few months or I’d tell you to ride that camel in the deserts of Oman. It’s a bit too sticky hot right now, though by September… hmm perhaps.

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