I’m almost at the 20th edition of this little blog series, which means I’m within arm’s reach of listing 200 things I’ve never done!
Maybe when I get to Part 20, I’ll post all 200 so people can tally their overall scores? Maybe I should call this series done and dusted at that point?
Never Have I Ever…
- Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings.
- Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings.
- Spent a night in a hotel room by myself!
- Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
- Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter).
- Read a complete book in a different language.
- Gone to the movies on opening night.
- Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV).
- Tried lychee.
- Gone waterskiing. (I’ve tried twice, but couldn’t get up either time. Womp, womp.)
Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Part 9. Part 10. Part 11. Part 12. Part 13. Part 14. Part 15. Part 16. Part 17. Part 18.
Your turn.
- What’s your score on this edition of Never Have I Ever?
- Have you ever spent a night in a hotel room alone? I’m assuming most of you will answer yes!
- Gone waterskiing?
Discover more from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.




I’ll play:
1. Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings yes, a number of times
2. Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. – yes, many nights
3. Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! – yes. I enjoy my little bit of travel by myself while G’s visiting clients
4. Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. – No
5. Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). – No. The main reason to wear a fancy hat in Melbourne is for the Melbourne Cup Carnival (horse racing) but I’ve never been
6. Read a complete book in a different language. – no. I don’t know a second language, although I would like to remedy that.
7. Gone to the movies on opening night. – no
8. Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). – I have watched the Melbourne Cup on TV. We have a public holiday for it so we are often with friends or family and watch the race
9. Tried lychee. – yes, but I’m not a fan
10. Gone waterskiing. (I’ve tried twice, but couldn’t get up either time. Womp, womp.) – yes. I used to go camping by the river with friends, and we skied most days and I did it enough to be able to ski a single ski. Tip. To get up, you have to keep your arms really straight.
Thanks for the tip. I think I’m too much of a wimp to try waterskiing at this age, but I’ll pass the tidbit along to my kids who are more agile and might get the opportunity to try someday!
I’ve only been in a hotel room with parents/sibling ( multiple times- mostly once my older siblings were adults and there were only 5 or less at home. ) and gone to a movie on opening night ( a Harry Potter midnight showing -Deathly hallows part 1- I left my infant at home with my husband and took a couple of the other kids. It was really a fun, social event).
I’ve read parts of books in another language ( French, Latin) , but the only book I’ve come close to reading in total is Le Petit Prince ( by Saint-Exupéry).
No water-skiing or horse races for me. And I am not a hat person ( except for a floppy sun hat at the pool, and it looks terrible on me. I just don’t have a hat face. )
That would have been SUCH a fun movie to see on opening night. I bet there were a lot of people in costumes!
I laughed out loud at your comment that you “don’t have a hat face.” I know what you mean, though. Some people really are suited to wearing hats. Others… not so much.
No to waterskiing (due to my fear of water, among other things), but I’ve stayed in hotels alone for various writing things over the years. I wish I’d gotten to travel with my parents! And I’ve read a couple of kids’ chapter books in French, just to see if I could! Hope the rest of your summer goes by nice and slowly! It would be interesting to see if over the course of your “Never have I ever…” posts, you’ve actually done some of the things.
My waterskiing issues had nothing to do with fear of water and everything to do with upper body strength. Which wasn’t good in my tweens and teens and would be worse now.
I know I have done at least ONE of my Never Have I Evers… I think now two? But I love the idea and think once I do the 20th edition, I’ll post everything and see where I land.
I did great on 1-4, yes to all. I didn’t even know what a fascinator is (I had to look it up) so obviously no to that. For the others, I’ve seen horse races on TV, and tried lychee. No to waterskiing- somehow the opportunity has never come up.
I only know about fascinators because I love reading about royal fashion and they often wear fancy hats and specifically often fascinators.
I thought I was going to be on a roll, because I have done all of the first four, but then I struck out for the rest of the list! Oh well. I do think you could give yourself credit for *going* waterskiing, even without success, but maybe I’m splitting hairs there.
I like the partial credit idea!! Though I felt like a fool and it was a bit of a bummer to not get to experience the thrill of gliding over the water.
Oh I think I’m 10/10 on this one!
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings – Yup, many times
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings – again, many times (althogh more motel…)
Spent a night in a hotel room by myself – YES and this is the best
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – Aww I will invite you if we ever do one (unlikely though)
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter) – I am sure I have done this to a british wedding
Read a complete book in a different language – DOes a kids book count? I used to read childrens books in swedish, and made a good effort on Harry Potter in Swedish.
Gone to the movies on opening night – Definitely for at least one of the Harry Potter films
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV) – Yes, it was weird and I lost £10 quickly
Tried lychee – in a drink, definitely.
Gone waterskiing. (I’ve tried twice, but couldn’t get up either time. Womp, womp.) – Once and I was terrible at it too.
Woot, woot! 10/10. Look at your go.
I think I would enjoy a night alone 🙂 I’m sure it will happen one day.
Kids books definitely count!
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings – Hm. Not as an adult. I was born in Europe and obviously traveled on a plane to get to the States, but I don’t remember it. Does this count?
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. – More times than I can count.
Spent a night in a hotel room by myself – More times than I can count.
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – I have not done this, either.
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). – No? Do people still do this.
Read a complete book in a different language. – I have read picture books in Spanish.
Gone to the movies on opening night. -Yes, we went to see The Blair Witch Project in college on opening night. My best friend reallllly wanted to see it.
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV) – I’ve certainly watched a Kentucky Debry or two on television, but never been to a live race.
Tried lychee – Nope.
Gone waterskiing. – Nope. I am not a strong swimmer and try to avoid anything where I might die.
Wait. You were born in Europe??? Did I know this. I feel like maybe I did, but I forget and WHERE?? I have questions, Engie.
British people DEFINITELY still wear fascinators. A lot.
What did you think of the Blair Witch Project?
Fair enough on the not wanting to die! My big issue was upper body strength and nothing much has improved over the years 🙁
Let’s do this!
1. Travelled on a plane with parents: yes
2. Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents: yes
3. Spent a night in a hotel room by myself: much more often than I’ve spent a night in a hotel room with another person.
4. Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Never! I would not be opposed if the opportunity ever came up.
5. Worn a fascinator/fancy hat: yes, in a school play in middle school.
6. Read a complete book in a different language: nope, but I hope to some day. Judging by my attempts at reading short passages in Spanish, it’s going to be a very long time.
7. Gone to the movies on opening night: nope, not opposed.
8. Attended a horse race/watched one live: exactly once! A long time ago someone wanted to watch the Kentucky Derby during one of our family parties. It turns out that it’s a very short race and the discussion of horses’ names is fascinating, so I recommend it.
9. Tried lychee: nope, not opposed.
10. Gone waterskiing: nope, and I am opposed to this one because I don’t think that I would do well.
Okay, I love that you wore a fascinator in a play. I want a picture of this, Birchie!
Let’s make a deal that the next time you come to visit (or I come see you), we’ll go on opening night to a movie. This feels like a VERY easy thing to cross off our list.
These are fun posts!
1. Traveled on a plane with my parents: Never
2. Spent night in a hotel room with my parents: Yes
3. Spent night in a hotel room by myself: Yes
4. Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Never
5. Worn a fascinator/fancy hat: Yes, in a parade
6. Read a complete book in a different language: Yes, in French
7. Gone to the movies on opening night: Never
8. Attended a horse race/watched one live: Never.
10. Gone waterskiing: Never
I love that people have worn fascinators. I’m… fascinated. Haha. I know that’s horrible, but I still did laugh!
Thank you for introducing me to the fascinating word of “fascinator”. What a useless blob on one’s head. . . so funny!
Sorry to wreck your list of ten, but you DID go waterskiing! You just didn’t stand up. I tried it a few times and thought my arms would get pulled out of their sockets. Also decided that since it is all hard, I should skip doubles and just try single skiing. It was great if one likes water jammed into all one’s facial cavities along with a wedgie that almost requires surgical extraction.
Useless, but then again so much of fashion is, right?
YES! I felt the same way. It was so jarring to my shoulders. I’ll stick to downhill skiing which is probably far more dangerous, but easier to get and stay up on two feet.
Oh, my sweet friend, a hotel room to yourself is the very definition of heaven. I hope you can partake in that glory one day! I have stayed in many hotel rooms with my parents and siblings, but never been on a plane with them. And I probably never will! I have had lychee, worn a fascinator, gone to the movies on opening night, and although technically it’s not a horse race, but there are horses involved, so I am going to count the Stampede Chuckwagon races.
I’ve never been to the Stampede, but a chuckwagon race DEFINITELY counts! How perfectly iconic for a Canadian.
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings. – Yes, going on vacation as a kid. In fact, I was 32 the first time I flew without either parent along.
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. – Yep, on various vacations. My sister would kick in her sleep, ouch!
Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! – Yes, on work trips.
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. – Nope, I didn’t grow up in a religiously diverse area.
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). – Nope.
Read a complete book in a different language. – I don’t think I ever have.
Gone to the movies on opening night. – Nope, never been a big movie goer.
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). – I’ve seen the Kentucky Derby on TV a few times, but it just happened to be on (at least once was during a birthday dinner out at a Sports Bar type of place), I’ve never sought out a horse race to watch.
Tried lychee. – Nope, only know what it is from reading “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”.
Gone waterskiing. – I don’t like being in water with fish, so no. Can you water-ski in a heated, chlorinated pool? I’d be willing to try in that environment. lol
My kids do NOT enjoy sharing a room on vacation, except it’s my son who is all elbows and knees.
I don’t like being in water with fish, so no. Can you water-ski in a heated, chlorinated pool? I’d be willing to try in that environment. Haha. I would NOT want to be in ocean water or anything with jellyfish, etc.
OK, here are mine!
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings – Yes, though only with my mom and brother, not my dad and sisters. Most recently a few years ago when I visited my brother in Alaska, and we flew from Anchorage to Juneau.
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings – Yes, though this one has been quite a while. Most recently may be in the mid 80s when I went on a business trip with my mom, so San Diego.
Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! – Yes, though only on business trips. When my daughter was little I thought it sounded like heaven, I would sleep so well. Nope.
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – Yes, a few! It’s a beautiful ceremony, I loved it.
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter) – I had a fancy hat at my wedding reception, with a little veil and all!
Read a complete book in a different language – I don’t think so. I am horrible at all languages except English.
Gone to the movies on opening night – Yes, many times.
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV) – Yes! I used to watch horse racing on TV a lot, but I’ve broken up with US horse racing due to the cruelty of the sport, most specifically in the US. I’ve been to a couple of flat races, one steeplechase (my FAVORITE, it was a fancy fundraiser some friends were invited to, and we were in the middle of the track on a misty, rainy day…having the horses thunder toward you, leap over the fence, then disappear into the mist was magical), and when we were in France we went to see buggy races. I adore horses.
Tried lychee – Yes! My SIL was visiting and there was some growing in a yard near a restaurant we went to, so we grabbed a couple. Did I like it? I don’t remember.
Gone waterskiing – I’ve tried, but like you I couldn’t get up. I still count it as having done it though!
I scored pretty high on this one. I’ll assume no on the book in another language.
Wow! Great score.
I love that you had a fancy hat with a veil at your wedding. It sounds so classy and elegant.
I’ve done a few of these!
I’ve flown on a plane with my parents and siblings, slept in a hotel with them, attended a bar mitzvah, and been waterskiing.
No to the fascinator, sleeping alone in a hotel, trying lychee, reading a book in another language (partial yes, in German), seeing a movie on opening night, and watching horse races.
These are fun 😄
I feel like I can make one of these happen in 2026. A movie on opening night? Trying lychee? It won’t be reading a book in another language.
Oh wow! Another fun round!
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings. – YES. We flew a lot as a family because my grandparents lived far away.
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. – Yes. Family vacations. Well… we liked staying at Motel 6 – does that count?
Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! – Yes – often for work. It’s glorious.
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. – Just went to my first one this year. It was a lot of fun.
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). – How fancy is fancy? I think most of my hats are practical not fancy.
Read a complete book in a different language – Yes, in French, but it was a middle grade type book. (Le Petit Nicolas) I’ve also read a couple plays in French.
Gone to the movies on opening night. – No. That just seems like a lot. But maybe not for something smaller and not blockbuster.
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). – Nope. Wait, that’s not true – at work, we always had the Kentucky Derby on backstage and would gather to watch it.
Tried lychee. – YES. So many times. One of my favorite fruits. But you have to get good ones. The not good ones are … not good.
Gone waterskiing. (I’ve tried twice, but couldn’t get up either time. Womp, womp.) – no, but it does sound fun. I’ve actually not even really gone snow skiing. I think I tried once in high school, but didn’t get very far.
Motel 6 definitely counts!
I think I’d need some insider advice on how to get GOOD lychee. Isn’t that the case for so many fruits? A perfect peach is truly sublime. A bad peach is… horrible.
Ha ha! I was born in Germany on an Army base. My parents were both in the military.
The Blair Witch Project was creepy. I had never seen anything like it (I was in college) and it definitely gave me some bad dreams.
Engie, I knew this and I am so disappointed in myself for forgetting!
Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings. – yes, but I was very young and only know the stories
Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. – yes, and I will never share a room with my dad if I can help it. He SNORES
Spent a night in a hotel room by MYSELF! – yes, for work / conferences. It’s a weird experience, because you’re used to having people nearby and now you don’t
Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. – nope, too bad
Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). – twice, to weddings. One was actually a mini hat to clip into your hair. We went in suit and red heels, inspired by Rory Gilmore’s outfit at her grandparents vow renewal
Read a complete book in a different language. – sure, Dutch, English, French. Although French has been a while.
Gone to the movies on opening night. – don’t think so?
Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). – not really, although I watched the Aintree races occasionally for the outfits
Tried lychee. – yes, I really like it!
Gone waterskiing. (I’ve tried twice, but couldn’t get up either time. Womp, womp.) – I failed miserably too. Oh well!
Love the Rory Gilmore inspiration!!
I’m feeling much better about my inability to get up on waterskis.
I love that outfit of Rory’s, and I love that you used it for inspiration!
1. Travelled on a plane with my parents or sibling: Yes, several times
2. Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings Same as above
3. Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! Yes! I’ve probably spent the majority of nights in a hotel by myself.
4. Attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. No, but I would love to.
5. Worn a fascinator (or any fancy hat, for that matter). No.
6. Read a complete book in a different language. I read a children’s book in Danish but had to look up some words.
7. Gone to the movies on opening night. I don’t think so.
8. Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). No, and I’m not sure about how good it is for horses, so I don’t really want to.
9. Tried lychee. No.
10. Gone waterskiing. No, and I don’t think it would go very well – I’m not that coordinated! I’ll try anything once though, so maybe one day if I get a chance.
Definitely still count the Danish book!! I mean, I sometimes look up English words when I read so that would be an automatic necessity if I tried to read things in a second language.
I love your willingness to “try anything once.” That’s a GREAT approach to life. Though I’m not sure I want to try skydiving. Once might turn into never again BECAUSE I PLUMMET TO MY DEATH.
Ha, that’s very true! Sky-diving is low on my list of things I want to try 😉 And thanks! I was fairly cautious as a kid so now I’m trying to make up for it as an adult 🙂
– Travelled on a plane with my parents or siblings – I flew to Chicago with my older brother and sister for our eldest brother’s engagement party and then again I flew with my older sister to that brother’s wedding – and that sister got engaged in the airport on our way to that wedding!
– Spent a night in a hotel room with my parents or siblings. We used to do girls trips every other year so I stayed with my mom and sister in a hotel on those trips. Our last one was 2013 when I was living in Charlotte.
– Spent a night in a hotel room by myself! I have spent countless nights alone thanks to work travel.
– Attended a horse race (or watched one live on TV). I used to live close to a horse race track so I would go on Thursday nights with a boyfriend.
– Gone waterskiing – I tried when I was younger but could never get up!!
A proposal in an airport? That has a Hallmark movie written all over it!
I actually thought of you when I came up with the “spent a night in a hotel room by myself.” I was like: I know Lisa’s answer 🙂
I am feeling 100% better about not being able to waterski successfully.
Let’s see… I have traveled on a plane but only with my mom. I have spent a night in a hotel room with my parents and siblings. I don’t *think* I’ve spent a night in a hotel room by myself, though! I’m trying to think… but nothing comes to mind. I have gone to the movies on opening night (it was Spider-Man, the Tobey Maguire version!)
But the rest is a big fat NOPE for me. I love the idea of waterskiing but I am not coordinated enough to make it happen for me, lol.
I’m not coordinated either; maybe that’s reason I couldn’t get up 🙂
1) yes
2) yes
3) yes
4) not yet!
5) not yet!
6) Not on your life!
7) not that I remember
8) not yet
9) I’m sure I have, but it’s been a minute
10) yes!! I wasn’t good at it, but I did it.
Not on your life-hahaha! Love it!
For the first time, I’ve actually done a couple of these! I’ve traveled and stayed in many a hotel room with my parents and sibling! I had to read a book for French class in high school and I think I’ve gone to a movie on opening night, although now I can’t think of any specific movie that I saw…