Back at the Veranda, on that Monday, we had the very first ever Caminoheads Bureau Chiefs’ meeting. There were five of us present which seemed to be sufficient to talk for the group. One of the things that came out of that was I was supposed to write a thank you note to the pilgrims that came to the event. This proved harder than it at first looked.
I just read an email from Annie that was a thank you to us for the invitation to the weekend. And she was having trouble formulating that and finally got one together. I wrote back that I was having the same problem. But I am going to take a run at it here today because it has been so long and something has to happen.
Well, there are so many people that I owe thanks you’s to that it is overwhelming. It was such a hands on project by design that it included everyone in its works. Even people that didn’t come had contributed. From planting corn to loaning us all the dishes and silverware to letting us use their coffee pot. It was all sort of a big potluck with so many loose ends and connections.
I guess I feel like for everyone I thanked there are three that should have been. Anyway, you all did it in the end. We provided the venue and the condiments and you guys potlucked it together. And I knew that you could, that you would. I had no doubts. “You’re pilgrims, they know what to do.” That was my personal motto. No need for over engineering.
My Rebecca and I are so thankful for how all the parts seemed to come together. It fulfilled our expectations and more. It was a dream come true really. And it was a complete surprise that we somehow decided to do it again in a year and set the dates, August 21st through the 24th, 2020. Back again in the time of corn and blackberries.
I look at the event and it’s outcome as very reassuring. We talk big talk about ourselves and our fellows and our “movement” and yes it’s all true we see. There is something very special with what we are playing around with here. How else can I say that?
reassuring loves, Felipé.
(Rho, maybe you could email this off to all the folks that signed in. Thanks.)
Querido Felipe,
These words are the perfect “Thank You”, which in fact, they are what we were thinking of: mostly a reflection of what it was, a “giving thanks” for what we lived. And what we lived was all you wrote and all you and us have been writing about in this blog since we become a part of it with you… we have been trying to “figure out” what is that we have learned… and the Veranda was a proof of it all: pilgrims looking for a shelter that found a place in your yard, hospitaleros waiting for us (like Marcie and Charlie), a pilgrim with some skill who offered the hospitalero to fix the outlet, or the shower, or to water the plants… fellow pilgrims offering the “half of half an apple” or the Victorinox or the band-aids… arriving to the albergue and see the tapas table already “in progress” and other pilgrims “directing” the kitchen to do the communal meal, and be part of it just because there is always a place in the table for someone else…, and the ones crossing the doors when the meal was almost done, but adding more with with a bowl of food, or a bag of cookies or fresh bread or cheese or a wine… others doing the dishes… and even that pilgrim who out of nowhere would take the most delicious sweet or chocolate or whatever, that as simple as it could be in normal life, in the tapas table is the most extravagant delicatessen,… the generosity to share all, no matter how tiny, how cheap or how expensive, or how much you may need it the following day… and the conversations… Ohhhhhh… the conversations resulting in a hug, or in tears, or in laughters, or in a chest expansion, or in growing like 50 cm (yes, I left SO much taller and wider than I arrived!!!), the moments shared with such intentional presence that let you know you have gained a brother, or a sister, or someone you know will be walking with you even if you are in the other side of the world, … and the experiences… the experience of walking the Camino (Phil’s Camino), with other pilgrims or just with one, in silence, or talking, or praying, or meditating, or giving thanks, or just contemplating how lucky we were for being there… and the experience of sharing mass, or sharing the moment at the rock pile, or praying so intentionally over a fellow human… the experience of the anointing (that is another chapter)… and recognizing in our bodies the healing power of touch, or a hug, of a kiss, or holding hands, …and the presence of the others… those familiar faces again (like Catherine and Dana!)… and all that was simply there: the trees who held the lights, and the tables and chairs that someone else offered, the dishes and coffee pot and that shinny sun, wonderful weather and comforting campfires… all those things that different someone”s” put on our way, for our comfort, for our experience, for our memories… So to answer the question of what we have figured out, all of that could be quoted, and if proofs are needed, we also have them due to the generosity of the ones who were recording all that happened while we were just there… the images captured of what we lived are just so touching… we probably thought we had an idea of what it was, but there are so many pictures taken that tell so well what we a day in the Camino can be and what is that we have figured out in the Camino and so convinced say that we can live it after arriving to Santiago…
Well, I guess all I am trying to say is thank you to all and for all. You have made me a better human being.
Just Gratitude and Just Love,
Cris
Cris ~ That was one long bus ride that it took to write that! Or you were up all night. That reminds me of my long steroid inspired posts written at 2 AM. But thank you dear I know that you are totally with it and totally sincere about this. Thank you to you. Everyone was a part of the situation. We bounce off each other. We enjoy each other.
I may have to take another run at the thank you note. It is hard to put words on everything that went on. But mostly I am reassured that we are indeed on to something. There is nothing else like this stuff anywhere. We have found something or something has found us.
I planted the crimson clover cover crop on the corn field today. We did that two years ago when you were here in October. So it is all put to bed for the winter. God willing in April we will be back there tilling the soil.
Thanks for being a part of all this, whatever it is! Felipé.x
Ha! No… I worked from home yesterday and typed it in the computer!