Welcome to the Future! As announced by Peregrino Felipe yesterday, today marks the inauguration of “The “B Team” filling in on Fridays. Usually, the “B Team” denotes the Junior Varsity, or at least “second string” players getting their shot in the limelight. Well, that’s partly true here as well, since none of us on the Bureau Chiefs Roster can fill the Big Shoes of Camino Phil. But, the purpose to is fill in and give the big guy a break once a week with this exceedingly long-running Blog. But, technically, for this “B Team” the “B” denotes Bureau Chiefs. A title we wear with some embarrassment as we don’t know how we got it, or what to do with it!
This missive goes out to many more folks than we were privileged to meet at the Veranda, so an introduction is in order: I’m Pilgrim Farmer John of Iowa. I’m the “Midwest Bureau Chief”. My so-far only Camino was in 2013, when I walked from Le Puy, France, to Finnesterre, Spain. My dear wife, Cathy, walked the last 110 kilometers into Santiago with me, and our middle daughter, Kelley, also joined us for several days. It was a total delight! My intent is to return in 2023 accompanied by a grand daughter, who will have just graduated from high school.
The other Bureau Chiefs will make their own introductions as they take their turns on successive Fridays. Not all of them are pictured above, but that shot is the only one we have available of the four of us who were at the Veranda.
I’m approaching my word limit imposed by Phil, so I’ll add this broad brush Thanks You to all the attendees at the Veranda, and the incredible hospitality of Rebecca and Phil to make it oh, so good! It’s nice that we can already start saying ‘Looking forward to Next Year!”
I don’t have all those cool sign offs that Phil comes up with, so I’ll go with the standard farewell by all old Marines,
Semper Fidelis,
PFJ
The sign of a great team when the star gets to sit while the depth of talent takes over when called upon! Nice work PFJ!
Diego
PFJ–I was pleased to meet you at the Veranda. Thanks for blessing my daughter Katherine’s nose with Lourdes water. And thanks for giving Phil a Friday break. See you next year. Semper Fi.
Well done PFJ! Thank you for breaking the ice!
Now, when you said you were the one “on the right”, I had a bit of a trouble… you probably could have identified yourself with the one who lives “Semper Fidelis” to all, including to his T-shirt words… “Wenches want me”… and therefore you were surrounded by your two females BC colleagues! 😋
B Team Loves,
Cris (CSABC)
So HAPPY to meet you at Phil’s Veranda – even though we seemed to hit a lull time. The movie theater experience (and OF COURSE THE MOVIE) as well as “the Veranda” were awesome and I am so happy to hook into this myriad of meanderers!!! How cool it will be to include your Grands on the Camino!!! Bill and I hope you enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies!!
Gracias John for your words. Even though I was unable to get to the first Veranda I will prepare a Friday message when my turn comes around. It is certainly an honor to share words with the family reading this blog.
Let me know a due date and the word count limit and I’ll get my first one done.
It was so good to meet you at the Veranda, John! Your blog intro is very welcome, not only as a break for Felipe, but also as a way to get to know you better. I’ve retold your nun/pilgrim story to all my Catholic friends and they love it, too!
Alperfect,
Mary Margaret