Camino people have a certain lightness, a certain playful quality, yes. You move easily and are a dream to travel with. Complaining doesn’t occur to you, no. People looking in may think you unrealistic or naive but you have scars to prove something. But beside it all you have a certain something, a joy maybe, that can’t be denied. It’s contagious.
Camino people are certainly not dowdy, dreary or overly anything. You are are not well dressed or vain. You are a sort of human Swiss Army knife. You are not proud but you take pride. You smile when your socks are wet.
I can’t say that you don’t irritate me sometimes but then you are quick to forgive me when I chafe you, most times. When the trail is not smooth you shine. Why is that? You carried my pack one day. You had food when I forgot. You forgot when I promised and didn’t come through on something else. You don’t particularly like sardines and chocolate for breakfast; no one is perfect I guess.
I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Can you tell? Felipe.
Hola Felipe, Amigo, Compadre, Leatherneck,
Lots of good stuff has happened to this farmer in 2015, but it has occurred to me that making this connection with your good self has been one of the best. We all need folks in our “peer class” to look up to, and you fit that bill admirably. So, just sayin’, I appreciate you, too.
It was great to have that title on your blog today. I think appreciation is under-appreciated in today’s society. I find myself using that phrase “thanks, appreciate your help/service/advice/humor/effort” a lot. I think people NEED to feel appreciated, and are seldom told that they are.
Son in law Sailor Marc is headed home from NWS Seal Beach, CA. Yesterday, he spent his last day of 31 years of service telling his crew that he appreciated all they had accomplished for him and thanking them for that. It will be great to have him home permanently.
In appreciation,
SF,
PFJ
PFJuan ~ We might have to explain “Leatherneck” to the Caminoheads. Let me try: in the early days of our country Marines wore a leather collar that was to protect their neck from saber blows. So they got the nickname Leathernecks which is comparable to others like “Devil Dogs” (World War I) or “Jarhead” (after flat top haircut).
Yea, so you are doing the year in review thing now. Does that mean you have your Christmas/Advent prep under control and you are on to the next thing? How do you think that makes me feel? I am currently wallowing in the ” I am so far behind” drama.
OK, I am going to write my blog post and write a swak of Christmas cards before the Seahawks game. Old German saying: The harder I work the behinder I get. Of course I’ve been called a behinder before, PFF.