life on the fence

we're headed on vacation starting saturday, and i absolutely cannot wait. it's been over a year since i've had a real vacation - one that doesn't involved kansas or missouri in any way - and i feel long overdue. we're spending a week in the mountains of colorado - seeing the sites, hiking the trails, breathing in the air. i'm one of those types who thrives on getting out of town. there's something about seeing your work, your responsibilities, the demands of others in your rearview mirror that is so therapeutic. not having many of those opportunities in the last year has been a bit draining.

i've been thinking a lot about spain lately. isn't it funny how the experiences you seem to believe are unforgettable and life changing can wain and fade with a little time and distance? it was four years ago this august when i quit my job at united way and left for my little three-month adventure. lately i've been trying to recall the faces of the children i worked with in the preschool, the layout of alfa y omega, the walk into town, the view and feel of the beaches there. i'm trying to remember the people i met, the sounds of their voices, their laughter. i'm seeking memories of the sites of barcelona and the paths of madrid. i'm trying to recall the first feelings of complete independence i gained during my travels, and the excitement (and apprehension) that they brought. these are things i don't want to forget, but yet they are so hazy.

how many more of my life experiences - the best and worst days of my life, the moments that have defined who i've become - will also wain and fade with time? is there anything i can do to prevent it?