I just got a message from Gracie all the way from Sidney. She finally got a chance to view Phil’s Camino after all these months. So glad that she liked it, heck she was in it too. What a great person and wonderful walking companion. We will put up a pic of her if I can find something.
I associate Gracie with the sunflowers. To see millions of sunflower blooms in the Spanish sunshine did make us giddy. Most of my fondest memories of the Camino were these moments of pure elation mixed with pure exhaustion. Giddy is our closest word to that. And we discovered that Spanish language doesn’t have an equivalent to giddy. I will have to consult with Professor Dunn from Henderson College, a Spanish scholar. Yes, that will be a good excuse to say hello to her.
There I found some good shots of Gracie along the trail. Crazy us, giddy us! This all was definitely an adventure in God’s playpen. Gracie was next to me in the film where I pass out in church and she prevented me from injuring myself on the stone floor. Catalina and my African-American friends say that power was the Holy Ghost getting my attention. And it was the occasion of my big claim to fame of me surrendering and falling into the arms of Grace. God’s playpen, right?
Ah, can’t make this stuff up in a hundred years, that’s the beauty of it. And so glad that Jessica captured that on video. She dropped the camera in the process of trying to catch me and then picked it up and continued filming. Crazy scene that one.
Well, all major fun. Off today on more adventures. We are home but that doesn’t mean that adventures are not possible. They are hidden there somewhere.
Love, Felipe.
Fun first! And with that come the adventures. Love the giddiness of life. And love to you!
¡Hola Felipe!
I have used “mareado, -a” as an adjective for word for “giddy”. In some regions “mareado” can refer to seasick or dizzy. To me…”mareado” is perfect for describing the swinging of the incense burner in the Basilica de Santiago…or the incredible art from eye level to extreme heights all throughout the Camino and Europe. It is easy to become overwhelmed to the point that you just have to “take a break”, a breath or “get out of the boat”…just to be able to digest the beauty! ¡Buen Camino Mareado!
James ~ you are so fantastic coming back with this great comment so quickly. So glad that you put a translation on that quirky feeling. I asked numerous folks in Spain and never connected. It is a subtle deal. I am going to run this by Maryjane Dunn another Spanish wiz and see if she can add anything. Will let you know.
Have I met you in person somewhere along the line or did we connect otherwise? Just wondering. So many great folks have come int my life in the last few years that I have trouble keeping them all sorted out.
Thanks so much for your help. Phil.
¡Gracias Felipe!
I reached out to you a month or 2 ago after seeing your film down here in Southern California with Annie O’Neill at Holy Name Parish in San Dimas. (I teach Spanish a block from Holy Name at Damien High School.) Two summers ago I walked the Portuguese Way, (Fatima to Santiago). Last summer I walked the English Way from Ferrol down to Santiago. 2 of my best friends, Loretta and Terri, met me in Santiago after they did the Portuguese Way. We had a beer and then went on to Finnestere and Muxia. I guess we are Caminohead addicts! Hoping to take on the French Way after seeing Lourdes in summer 2018. (Loretta may have contacted you yesterday about 7 of us coming up your way July 13th.) Your work is such a blessing to all of us…proof to the notion that the Camino does not end in Santiago! The blessings continue well after the pack comes off, right?
I always start my day off reading your blog. It is such a great way to start the day. I love being reminded of all the Camino taught us and the many gifts that continue because of it. I know that sunflowers and giddy feeling!
Miss you and it!
I’ve met Prof. Dunn at the big pilgrimage studies conference at William & Mary where (get this) Annie & I have presented on Phil’s Camino…and SUNFLOWERS! I kid you not.
Catalina ~it is great to know that you ran into Maryjane in your travels. She was at our showing in Hot Springs,AR. Felipé.x