I took five years of Spanish -- high school and university (I thought I'd since forgotten it, this was 30 years ago). A few years ago I found myself in Barcelo

I took five years of Spanish -- high school and university (I thought I'd since forgotten it, this was 30 years ago). A few years ago I found myself in Barcelona for a week. First day, I was completely lost. By the end of my stay I found it had come back to me, at least for rudimentary conversation. I even picked up a little Catalan. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a former boss. He asked if I spoke Italian. I said no. "But you speak some Spanish, right?" To wit I sheepishly said, "yeah but it's been a long time". Then he rattles off something in Italian and asks "What did I just ask?" .. "Something about wanting 4 glasses of Tignanello wine for the table" And he says: "See? You have enough to be in the conversation, or at least listen. Talking is overrated, anyway..."