The discussion about National Tinfoil Week. This cracks me up.
It’s quiet now and two days past Friday and the showing of So Far So Good. It rained and hailed but we persisted. And the wonderful QandA. I am so so honored to be part of those happenings. That one had especially gratifying with tremendous chemistry.
Elsewhere we have news from the Camino, yes, the Camino de Santiago and Astorga specifically. I think that this is a first. We had a meet up between one of our Caminoheads, Debra Jarvis with Ron our Bureau Chief in Astorga. Debra was here at the Veranda and several days after that she was off to walk the Camino. I had been texting with her and set her up with our folks who live along the Way. Yes, very cool.
Ron , Caminoheads Astorga Bureau Chief with Debra Jarvis.
I’m happy. Here we are making news locally and abroad. Sort of almost a juggernaut!
juggernaut loves, Felipé.
Being firmly ensconced in the septuagenarian decade now, I find myself often echoing the refrain of so many of my like-aged compatriots: “Don’t Make Me Change!” But I realize I must always to open to the scary territory of “Change”. All of this prelude is to explain the different salutation that this comment must contain. I have always addressed my comments specifically to Felipe, as he has been the originator of these thousands of posts from the get-go. But it has become obvious that the audience is much wider than will be seen by just our fearless leader. So, henceforth, my salutation will be for all of you; those stalwart and wonderfully faithful Caminoheads.
Hola, Caminoheads, World Wide,
And now on to the specific comments, that are in arrears. I had known from the moment the Bureau Chiefs had agreed to the “Fill-In-On-Friday” pact made at the Veranda that when SABC Cris made her debut, that it would be a heart-filler, and it truly was! It was all wonderful, but a paragraph stood out so majestically to me that I want to repeat it here:
“Since then too, I not only have a Camino Family, but also a Camino Neighborhood. And in this neighborhood, the neighbors like to invite each other to the living room of their homes (although we are posh and use the word “salon”, as the French do!) and we have amazing conversations about books, life, death, blessings, suffering, love… Very often we sit outside in the Tapas Table and we drink wine, break bread, and share our gifts. Most of all, we walk together and encourage each other, sadly, we haven’t lost weight, but it is all muscles of generosity and beauty…we have grown a lot…”
Does that not just give you all goose bumps, even in the re-reading? The always constant, ever so important themes of Family and Neighborhood. and then the litany of discussions on just the most important things: life, death, suffering, love—-” And those are the things we shared, while walking on Phil’s Camino, while sharing our community-supplied food and wine, while sitting around the campfire, or working together to clean up and do the dishes. Yeah, we for sure built up heart muscle, and honed our listening skills, and made ourselves more open to empathy and, where needed, sympathy.
So, Bless you and Thank You for all that, our dear Cris.
I feel an explanation of some sort is needed to explain my tardiness. Our extended family on Cathy’s side is still in the “shock phase” of having to deal with a family member deciding to take their own life. The shock is overwhelming, as literally not a single member of this family had seen a clue or inkling or most remote thought of this heart breaking event being imminent. A physically healthy, well-liked and respected man in the prime of his life at mid 40’s, and the father of twin 10 year old boys. It proves ever so potently how little we all know about what is going on the the hearts and minds of those around us. Love your friends and family as hard everyday as you possible can. We truly never know which day will be their, or our, last,
Semper Fi,
PFJ
Thank you Farmer John. Our richness factor has been sky high since the Veranda. Yes, and prayers for Cathy’s family. Sometimes life seems a high wire act. Felipé.
I sure agree with Farmer John’s feelings regarding Cris’s post and the neighborhood concept. I had noticed that the Camino Family with whom I feel in love as I walked grew by including their partners and family of those people and that forms the neighborhood on my personal level. Felipé and family adds to the streets nearby as well as all the Caminoheads.
So when Debra (her name means Bee in Hebrew) came buzzing down the Way we were thrilled to meet her. But once we met and found we had so much we had in common, how aligned our world views are – well, it was really a thrilling few hours. She spent the night in our very quiet guest room and we all got up early in the morning to send her off with hugs and some first breakfast in the dawning light of Astorga.
Tomorrow we get to meet Karen Kelly, another neighbor, from England. Being the BC in Astorga is getting to be more exciting all the time. Come visit us when you can.
Ronaldo ~ You have set up in a great place. And thank you for your hospitality. Hello to Ann. Felipé.
Dear Pilgrims Farmer John, Phil, and Ronaldo,
Thank you for appreciating my post, but I guess I am more grateful for “being one of you”, for the “belonging” part of the whole story… when I think about -or even when I tell people here that I am a part of “This”- it doesn’t sound credible… but again I come to these words from David Whyte that we quoted here and provided such a context to the Veranda: “what you can plan is too small for you to live”…
To find a community that celebrates me for who I am and wants me to be a part of it, has been one of the greatest gifts of the Camino. We share a very raw version of who we are, and those who like us, like that raw version of who we are, and with that simple act they are encouraging our authenticity…
“May we never doubt the gifts we bring*” Loves,
Cris
*Words from John O’Donohue
To Farmer John and Farmer Cathy,
I don’t know any words for such a thing… all I can say is that your family will be in my thoughts and heart.
Many hugs,
Cris