We all know how much fun it is to have a new person to talk Camino to, fresh meat My Rebecca would say. We are so enthusiastic about the topic we could probably talk to a stump if we had to. We can’t help ourselves as Annie would say.
Our daughter and her family have been here for almost a week and that has been fun. Rebecca getting to spend lots of time with her grandson. And you know, general celebration. So old friends of Tesia’s show up to hang out. And yesterday one of her old friend’s Sasja walked with me for the Sunday afternoon walk after we watched the film. She had never seen that. And we cried, have to add that.
Anyway I had her ear for a mile and a half. Well, it is not like I talked for the entire time but I tried to get in all the important points. But it occurred to me this morning as I thought about our conversation that the Camino as I describe it sounds like a pretty amazing place. I was trying to imagine our roles changed and me hearing about it for the first time. I would be saying, Really? Really? Really?
It is pretty amazing when you think about it like that as in imagining hearing about it for the first time. How did we get so lucky to stumble on it? Personally I will have to thank Martin Sheehan and the “Way” which is still probably the best easiest introduction to the whole phenomenon. Anyway, I consider myself one lucky guy. And if it had been for that we wouldn’t know each other and we be carrying on the way we do, pilgrimage junkies and tapa animals.
Just sayin, love, Felipe.
I still remember where I was standing in the church when I heard about pilgrimage and the Camino. It was 26 years ago… it is funny that that wall/column is still “my place” in the church… it is where I stay standing up when the church is full.
Cris ~ 26 years ago? How can you remember that so exactly? Is it in your diary? Funny how we have our “my place”. I sit with Catherine in a little side section where the folks that are working the service sit. Somehow I relate to the workers. Felipe.x
Seems I made wrong the numbers 🙂 It was 24, 1993, the holy year. I was 18 and I was at the mass I used to go (11:30 AM, the youth mass) at the church near home, where I went to school and where I still go. The priest -Fr. Gustavo- said that whoever do a pilgrimage on a holy year would condemn sins and intercede for the soul of a death person, and I said at that time that I would walk the Camino when I would be 40 for my mother. Funny enough I did not think about the Camino any more until 2011… and even funnier, that I ended going back to walk the whole Camino in 2014 when I did 40. (2011 was Leon to Santiago). And no, it is not written, it is just one of those things that for some reason, I remember.
Cris ~ I love the way your faith journey is so interwoven with your boots on the ground. This is as it should be. What is your Mother’s first name. I will put a rock on the pile here and she will be prayed for. I will try calling today. Felipe.x
Hi Phil,
I just have to say that I really enjoy reading your blog. I am a bit behind as you can see, but I eventually catch up. Life can keep us pretty busy and we find ourselves not finding time to do what we enjoy… like reading your blogs. Then, I make the time to read your blog and realize that I need to find more time to do the things I really enjoy! I feel so blessed to have been able to do the Camino and I owe it all to my dear friend Loretta. She is an angel to me. I didn’t think I would ever get the chance to go walk for three weeks… and then Loretta made it happen. Wow! What a life changing experience and one I can’t stop thinking about. Reading your blog every day makes my heart beat that much harder for the love of the Camino. Thank you for taking your time to write the blog and to share yourself with all of us! Lots of Love!
Terri
Terri ~ thanks for the great comment. We have talked about our ability to animate each other, to buoy each other up. I think that is one of the real gifts of the Camino. That is what we do here. We keep the flame burning in each other. Looking forward to seeing you in November. Thanks for being here with us, Felipe.x