a matter of hours

8 hours, to be a little more precise. That's when I get on a flight and leave Barcelona for what may be quite a long time. It's been a long, amazing, life-changing summer. I have seen and experienced things incredibly and wholly new to me, things I may never see again. While I could never fully enumerate them, some of the highlights include the Eiffel tower at night, European pub crawls, late-night metro trips, cafe con leche in bars, both major Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the continent, and Catalan/Spanish culture in general. While here, I have been witness to two of Spain's greatest athletic triumphs in decades (Euro2008 and Nadal ousting Federer at Wimbledon...."PODEMOS"). I've seen incredible musical talent, both on and off stage. I've seen so much, and it seems like so little.

I have quite possibly had the summer vacation of my life, and it means that much more because it is my last. In less than two days, I resume my responsibilites in the United States, all the more acutely as I go to Jury Duty. Yeah it sucks, but with in two days of living among Europeans, I'm reminded of my true citizenship by being called to the one Constitutional duty that is given to absolutely every American citizen. In truth, there are few more direct ways to be brought "home".

All the same, there is a piece of me that will never leave here. My soul, my life, has been forever altered by the friends and experiences I've found in Europe, however fleeting they may have been. I've been blessed by God to see all that I've seen here, and will always treasure it, well beyond my deathbed.

I can't count how many things I will miss about this summer. It is, by far, the best I've had since I first left Miami to study in Atlanta. Life has thrown a fair amount of curveballs my way, and while I didn't always put the bat on the ball, I certainly swung everytime, and I wouldn't change a thing. I've waited three years for this trip, and it was perfectly timed. This place has given me the renewed energy to earn my degree from Georgia Tech and begin making a life for myself. For that reason, I plan to keep updating this blog. The link will stay the same, though the title may change. I hope you'll continue to read every once in a blue moon.

I'm ready, Life. Throw everything you've got, because I'm laying all my cards on the table. The walls are coming down, and I'm coming for you. There's no more time for screwing around, because too much of you needs to be lived.

For the record, I think that if more people talked like that, the world would be a different place entirely. So I'll leave you with one question before I resume my life as an American citizen: What gives you the courage to face each day anew? What is worth the trouble of doing more than just surving (I know that's two questions...deal with it)?

-Gaby

P.S. I finally went to Sagrada Familia. Enjoy the pictures!