This is the third anniversary of Annie O’Neil’s first visit to Phil’s Camino the trail. It was a life changing day for me, my family, for all of us. It was a life changing day for Annie. There was a bolt of Camino energy that day that we are still living off of. And as Sancho said, “Everything is Possible on March 2nd!” Well he did say the everything is possible part, I had to help him with the rest.
I have been working on my Spanish language in my own Felipe way these daze. At the new shop I generally have the local Mexican AM station on the funky radio. It is fun to try and decode the talk. I am not quite that far to get meaning but am working on picking out individual words. And sometimes I need help. Yesterday there was a Spanish speaking couple getting chemo in the next comfy chair over and I started a conversation with them by asking what the Spanish word “también” meant. They were more than happy to help me out. Now I know that it means “also”. And I got “punto” hammered out, which means “point”.
I came back from Spain with a big idea to learn Spanish but that project has been going glacially slow as you can see. But what the hey? Maybe I will get some new help from Cris from Buenos Aires. Who by the way will be up on this blog tomorrow with her first post. Maybe I can get a pic off FB to put with it.
Thanks for all the comments lately. I’m sorry if I sometimes have short answers to long comments but I try. And también if I have more private type info to pass along I can pick your email address off of the comment and contact you that way. That’s the “punto” . My spell correction mechanism is going crazy here.
OK, off to walk and look for lion tracks. Nice being with you. Everything is possible loves, Felipe.
When I was a principal at a school with 65% of the students speaking Spanish, I had the mothers in my parent school improvement team write 2 words every week on an index card that I was too learn. They would all make a plan that whenever they saw me that week they would use the word in our interactions. And even the students got in on it and would stop me in the hall to quiz me on my progress. I must admit I was not the best student. I tried, but my retention was so so. I did benefit when I went on the Camino as I was able to understand a lot of what I read and some of what I heard if they didn’t speak too fast. So, it goes like this; social language is learned first, then technical language, reading it is acquired first, then listening and lastly speaking. Emerged in it on a day to day basis will help you learn it faster. My problem is I was born more with a math brain and not a language gifted brain. Languages have always been difficult for me to learn.
Keep that radio on and engaging with Spanish speakers. Invite some Spanish speaking young people to some archery lessons! Exchange Spanish talk for archery lessons! Much Love, Cas
Carol ~ I am not really a language person either, although I don’t think I’m a math person, is there another catagory? But am enjoying exploring Spanish in my own funky way. I am so happy around our Mexican community here on Vashon and they inspire me. Yes, archery lessons in trade, good possibility. Love my Handler, Felipe.
As yesterday was our ‘anniversary’, I spent some time in contemplation on how my life has changed since that fateful March 2nd. I knew the moment I met you that you were an incredible person, a person whose presence extended far beyond the confines of your body and your home. You are a global person, a Universal person. It was so…everything, being in your presence, walking with you. We walked, and we talked. We talked, and we walked. It all happened right there, that day. That is how it feels to me now. The whole film just kind of appeared to me right then and there. I had never had anything like that happen before, so i didn’t quite know how to talk about it, but as our friendship grew I started mentioning to you how your story would make a good film. It took a while to convince you. I think ‘walking’ my book really helped. We got to know each other on a deep, true level through that shared experience, which of course, was a huge confirmation of exactly what I was interested in communicating through my book. I do believe that meeting you is one of the single most important events of my life. It was a culmination of the lessons I learned while walking the Camino in Spain, and allowed me to use some of the gifts the Camino gave me: creativity, boldness, forgiveness, and joy. Thank you, again, Felipe for just simply being you. Completely being you. Outrageously being you. And fearlessly being you. Lots of love to you today and every day, my muse. Every day is a ‘How about March 2nd” kind of day! Ultreya y Suseya! Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Annie ~ you are too kind my dear. I cherish you for the cheerleader that you are. Something happened March 2nd 2014 that changed the way we both did business. And in the process hundreds of other people got involved and thousands benefited. Amazing what just walking in the mud can do, right? Happy Anniversary, Felipe.x