Life is a funny thing sometimes. So many unbelievably good things happen to us and we just forget about them. Yet when something bad happens, it seems to be lodged in our brains for years to come. When I was editing a video the past couple of weeks, I came across some old video footage. To watch, click the play button below (duration: 1:15)



I almost cried when I got done watching that (which I know you are thinking, what a girl, but you had to be there). But this is why this is sad. This footage was taken just outside the Capital in the South African city of Pretoria. I was there in July of 2004 (which is actually their winter hence the snow cap). Keegan, my teammate, was from Kenya. Keegan and I would always rag on each other. I would make socially unacceptable stereotypes about Kenyans (i.e. they eat bugs, etc...) and he would make socially unacceptable stereotypes about Indianians (we are all farming hicks). Good time was had by all.

Well then one day we are in Pretoria and there is this really long lawn out in front of their Capital. So I turn to him and say, today's the day Keegan, we are going to solve who is faster: a white guy from Indiana or a Kenyan. Now Kenyan's are known for their running, so you think, well duh, the Kenyan. But not today.

I won. But it was tough. And we laughed for at least the next two hours as we jammed 15 people in a van that probably should only of held 11.

But this is what sucks. After those couple of hours, I forgot all about that moment. In fact, until I found this video footage, I hadn't thought another second about it. If anything, the South Africa trip was by far the worst mission trip I ever took (out of five), and most of my feelings towards that trip are somewhat negative.

This is probably just one in probably thousands of memories that I haven't thought much about, but where so beautiful.

Tim McGraw has a song called "My Next Thirty Years." The song has these lines:

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my next thirty years

Well I am not 30 yet, but I am 24. And as I think about it, I hope my next 24 years will be years where more often than not I forget the bad times, while the good times do not go forgotten.

P.S. Props to Bryan Taylor for great camera work. What can I say, a little shakey but at least you got the rule of thirds somewhat down. ;) Now you are a double threat: you can drum for Gwen Stefani and you can be my video assistant.