I'm so scared to forget anything. Not my underwear or toothbrush but my memories. I'm terrified. I don't want the little details to fade from my mind. I lived here. Really lived that in way felt like the first time.
So here's a list for future me. Future me, don't you dare forget:
How freezing cold the room at the institute was and how you would spend an hour practically on top of the heater.
The birds chirping in the bathroom.
The super super early mornings and the thin crackers and tea.
How scared you were the first day for breakfast.
The night you and Jacob stayed up until 5 talking about stupid things and telling stories.
Rome. Rome was the bomb.
The smell of the cafe bar.
Honfleur and how competent you were using French.
John, Maddie, and Marcie.
Finding a sand dune to lay down on and just soak up the sun.
Volleyball.
Mr. Garnier.
GBU and the random English phrases from Jeremy and guy-we-always-forget-his-name. (My preciouss)
The adrenaline of getting on and finding a seat on the bus.
Sleeping on the bus.
Danielle's sly looks and her dream about Brad Pitt.
The road trip back from Paris with Elvira.
The Eiffel Tower with Jacob's family.
Getting bread in the mornings.
Walking from the apartment to the institute.
All the people you met from the groups.
The freedom to go run and walk whenever.
Being in God's presence on the hour long walks on the beach.
Coca cola for Troncy's class.
How you and Jacob both simultaneously forgot your tickets for the play until you guys were half way there.
The second time you forgot your ticket after multiple reminders and the sheer terror that followed, resulting in a trip home and back.
Returning to the train station after Rome.
The train ride back from Rome and the excitement of making the last train by two minutes.
Running through Paris totally turned around and getting directions.
Brett and Robin in class.
Cafeteria time.
Coffee (espresso really) after lunch at home.
The really bad jokes from Brett.
Robin when she gets tired and we both laugh at absolutely nothing.
Fruity mentos.
Phase 10 and multiple other card games.
The first game of chess.
The one time you jumped out and scared Jacob.
Cleaning bathrooms with great music and dancing all of us working as a team.
Church in Houlgate and Caen.
The old man that smelled like baby oil and does his bisous confusingly.
Salmon and spinach.
Fresh bread with Camembert.
The white asparagus soup.
Your inability to pour a glass of water without spilling any.
Learning the duet and the song from Pride and Prejudice on the piano.
How elated you could feel.
How devastated you could feel.
The generosity of the French.
Picking out flowers with Brett and Steve.
Steve and his awkward pauses.
Meow.
The realization you made that no one else has it figured out either so whatever you do is okay.
How quickly you learned French.
How speaking another language is like knowing a secret code and changes your mindset.
Know that I have this I hope it will be possible for me to not forget but pack it away so that I can handle leaving.
