Off to church tomorrow morning at St Austin’s. I will have to look up him/her when I get a minute. Yea, what is that story?

But the task now is to fill you in on today. It’s 2219 now and just getting to blog. We have been on the run since early morn, all good.

So, really the important thing is that the premier went awesome. A not quite packed venue was there to watch five short documentaries as a group. My Rebecca is going to help me remember them and place them in the right order. First was Bacon and the Wrath of God (about a Jewish women who decides to step out and eat, well bacon). Two was Phil’s Camino which you know about and will tell you more about in a minute. Third was “Alive and Kicking”(South African soccer team made up of Grannies – my favorite other than PC). Fourth was “The Shining Star Of Losers Everywhere” (story about a popular Japanese racehorse that never won a race). These C’cksucking Tears (story of brave gay country western singer Pat Haggerty)

Yes, well a pretty mixed bag there, right? But Phil’s went extremely well with people responding so well to it. I was blown away for one. It is magically beautiful. It is inspirational. It is funny in places. It is exotic in a Northwesty and a Spanish way, both. The drone shots are phenomenal. The map animation is very special. The interviews are rock solid. The sound and color problems were totally ironed out and the editing is crispy. There is the original soundtrack which adds so much. And there is more footage of Kelly! Yah! Right, you put that all together and it is truly multidimensional. It just comes at you like an octopus with its eight arms swinging.

We had a question and answer session on stage afterward which was very amazing to see and hear all the different folks who made the films, again a mixed bag for sure. Then there was a get together in the lobby for photos and more talk. Then we were off to a restaurant, a close by walk, to have lunch and celebrate. Of course we couldn’t leave it at that and headed back into the thick of things for parties and sight seeing.

Well, all together, a very heady day. It was kind of like a chocolate fondue, something you can’t do all the time. But we are off to a brunch late morning tomorrow and will see some more films as the day goes on. Monday we see Phil’s Camino again and another Q and A session. And somewhere along the line want to see the other group of short documentaries.

So, Padre Tomas, your lovely Chaplain friend made it. And thank you for your prayer for us as we went on our maiden voyage. Things are happening Padre, St James is Afoot. And how about St Austin?

Well, have to turn in, my eyeballs are crossed. A stellar day for getting the message out. Love you, Felipe.

We’re here in the great state of Texas. It took all day and all of our energy but we made it. Annie with Carol and Erica at the airport to greet us. Barack was here but left. Guess there’s not room in this town for the both of us. That’s how they talk down here.

So we are off to the big premier tomorrow morning which is around 11 AM. I’ll be so wired by late morning probably have thirty five cups of coffee in me by then. Stay calm Felipe.

So really I think that I will bail out here as it’s late and don’t know much yet. Will be back with you tomorrow with more. Very cool, love, Felipe.

Packing day today and then Catherine y Dana are whisking us off to SEATAC in the morning. All the little details to attend to. But a pilgrim can pack in thirty eight seconds, right?

My own personal comment is that my tank seems full, my spiritual tank. Feeling so lucky to have been called to all the things that have occured over the last four years. I was just a guy trying to mind his own business in the beginning and now there is this freakin movie to contend with. Hmm, how did all that happen?

Last night I watched a TED talk about these two friends that did the Camino recently. They had been friends since kids and grew up together. One gets a degenerative disease leaving him with almost no physical capabilities although his mind is on fire. His loving family cares for him at home which is all very cozy but all of a sudden he has this “calling” to “walk” the Camino de Frances. So, somehow his loving boyhood friend gets on board with the idea and they do all the prep which includes buying a superduper specialized wheelchair. And off they go to St Jean to cross the Pyrenees. It very soon becomes apparent that it is impossible for the pair of them to do this trip as envisioned. But what happens Caminoheads?

You know exactly what happens if you think about it one second. The pilgrims at hand help them each day, all the way, all the Way, across. Of course they do, that’s what they/we do, right? You and I would have in a heartbeat if we were there that day, that week, that month. The pair were so taken by this.

At the base of O’Cebario pilgrims camped waiting for them to arrive and they literally carried him and the wheelchair, a 250 pound package, over the damn mountain. People dropped out and others took their places as they slowly went up and over. I’m weeping. Of course that is what happened, right? We could easily been present that day, actually we were present that day in some mystical way, all a part of the flow of pilgrims.

I’m back. The March winds just came up and major gusts caused a certian brief amount of havoc around the yard here. My Rebecca and I out in the wind and rain getting things under control. Things that we thought had clear definitions suddenly turned into kites. Got my wet clothes off and now the sun comes out an hour later.

OK, gang have to go pack. Alperfect I guess, love, Felipe.

It’s Wednesday and Friday we are flying out. All the energy is moving in that direction. People traveling from all over to be there together. Totally an amazing feeling, an amazing phenononym.

I am callng Austin our Cruz de Ferro. It is a landmark that we all can be sure of. So much of the true work of this project has happened through the magic of modern communications and we haven’t had as much real contact with each other as we should have and landmarks have been hazy. And that is why this gathering in Austin is important to me. Well, one reason.

That is about the crew but then the audience is something that I need to consider. Why have these folks spent their hard earned time and treasure to be there to watch this little itty bitty movie. What do I owe them? How can I increase their understanding of what it is that we are trying to express? I am so glad that I am going to participate in this event. Thank you Annie for making this possible.

And the icing on the cake for me in the last few days has been listening and watching the music of Lucio Dalla who my Italian Camino buddy Lucia has turned me on to. He has passed away recently. And I think it was something like March 4th was his birthday and people all over Italy were playing his music and leaving their windows open to tell the world how much they love him. Thank you Lucia.

OK, time to get going. Working today and then taking tomorrow off. Check out Lucio. Love you all ways, Felipe.

Just got done with the construction workers’ breakfast. The taste of maple syrup flavoring my thoughts. Wiley off to work with the crew. Rebecca off to a substitute job at the high school. I have a few minutes to write.

We are starting to pack for the big party in Austin, the culmination of two years of work for us. That is not right. It is not the end but it is a huge landmark on our journey, our Cruz de Ferro perhaps. It is telling us that we are on the map, doing something significant being who we are.

I am looking forward to reuniting with the film crew, Todd, Jessica and Rebecca. They will always be special to me because we shared so much both in Spain and here, super folks. I am excited about meeting Doug Blush who lent so much knowledge and expertise to our effort. Annie will be there who is the spark plug of this whole operation. At all times and in all places she was there sheparding us along.

So glad the Rebecca is able to share this with us. She is a large part of the film. Probably leaving people out. Kelly should be there and Rick. Maybe someone will show up, a complete suprise. St James will be present of course. He is like oxygen for us, nothing less.

But today we are in prep mode. Yea, packing for a new adventure. Have to get out of farmer thought and back into pilgrim thought. Yes, that’s it, pilgrim thought, love you, Felipe.

The spring weather comes and goes and we make our way in between rainstorms. Since last Sunday we are moving west across the Meseta, the vast plain, the breadbasket of Spain. We’ve gone through Hornillos del Camino and Arroyo San Bol.

There is flooding here locally on Phil’s Camino so rubber boots are necessary. And have rain gear close at hand.

Weekly Walking Schedule:
Monday 0900-1000
Tuesday 1600-1700
Thursday 0900-1000
Sunday 1600-1700.

Would love to see you, love, Felipe.

This is totally hilarious! I don’t know if this is a joke or real but either way. It was reported that someone at My Rebecca’s church prayed, “Please let them be glamorous.” A plea to the higher powers on our behalf as we prepare for Austin and the film festival. This is always a problem for Vashonites, presenting ourselves properly to the mainland. Haha.

Also, a friend had a question yesterday. It was quite innocent and to the point but it kind of opened up a little world for me and I thought that it was worth exploring. Of course, there is always the disclaimer that the following is the world according to Felipe. Of course.

The question is, “What do you serve at tapas?”. Well, what would that be generally around here: olives (black and green), cheese, celery, bread (baguette is sexy) or crackers. That would be the basics. I like tomato, salami, peppers, green onions in addition, when available. When Catherine y Dana grace our environs they like some sort of pickle and the incomparable quince jelly. Our Cynthia adds lox. Our Jennifer adds an egg or chicken salad maybe.

Also, have to hydrate after a day’s walk or a day’s whatever. Water is handy, so is a red and white wine, nothing fancy which would confuse us. Beer is good for some who prefer that. When it’s hot I like a wine cooler made with an Italian soda and white wine.

Well, those are the bricks that make the wall but really the most important part of this to remember is that this is a celebration. This is the mortar. We all did our best at our day’s work and here we are gathered to enjoy each other and compare notes on the time since we saw each other last. Was that yesterday, last week, last year? Tapaing up with people can make sense of things that occured for you that were ackward or unfinished. Ah.

So, in that vein of tapa time being a celebration, the overall situation should be celebratory. Ambience is totally important whether it is a fancy place or the side of the road. How do we present this toast in the best possible way. Is it welcoming? Is it uncomplicated? Is it good to all the senses? Is it isolated from the hustle and bustle? Is our blood pressure going down? Is it that sanctuary that we need?

Yes, and not to mention the toast, the clinking of glasses, the wish, the prayer for one another. Maybe we say it in a couple of different languages, so much the better. This is when I realize that I/we are part of the bigger picture. Here we are huddled by the side of the road perhaps but we need to realize that this little ceremony admits us to something bigger.

Consider that anyone could show up for tapas with you. This is not a cult, a private club but an impromptu gathering that will be different tomorrow. Some different food, some different drink, some different folks, some different problems and some different joys will be there tomorrow. It is not a recipe or formula but a …

Always good, love, Felipe.

We know that. But do we really believe that? Do we really trust in that? Questions, questions, not a very good sort of introduction. Sorry.

The post yesterday was truthful but limp. Somehow, I am looking to make up for that without “jumping the shark”. I did finally emerge from my heavy fatigue to maybe a medium variety. Puttered around the kitchen and put some ingredients together. I haven’t been spending so much time cooking as I did last year and am somewhat rusty. But did get jello made, OK that’s not very difficult. Also had the stuff to make oxtail soup and potato salad and got that done. All three of those can survive nicely in the frig and be handy to have.

Am going to start thinking today about packing for the Austin trip. We are flying out on Friday. Catherine y Dana chauffeuring us, thank you. This is going to be pretty darn amazing and of course I will be blogging from there to give you a rough facsimile of what’s going on.

Speaking of rough facsimiles, my prayer of “God Is Good!” is a rough facsimile of the cosmic situation at least in the world according to Felipe. Yes, and where, do I go from here? Well, cosmically probably not much need really. But here at the ranch we have a walk in a few hours and it has just been pouring but it may clear. Then I have some shirts to iron and get ready for the big trip.

Before I leave I will have to credit a nun on the Camino for giving me the “Pilgrim Beatitudes” which had the phrase “the silence of prayer” which I worked on for a long time before I got it. The gist of it is that God is so close that we can leave the realm of words and communicate with our thoughts or perhaps better. So the fewer words the better is the thought.

You are good, love, Felipe.

It’s late Saturday morning on the usual worst day of my chemo cycle. I can hardly keep my eyes open although have slept well. Sometimes I don’t get this Saturday blog post together because of the fatigue. And this may be one of those.

Any maybe I am recovering from being zapped with 220 volts of Camino voltage yesterday. Yea, check that post out for something worth reading. Well, all days are not equal, we know that by now, days vary.

But thanks for returning here to see how how I/we are doing. I need you to be here when you can to share in the story. God loves stories and we will do our best. Love you, Fatiguey Felipe.

I was doing my morning mediation and my mind was continually drifting to thoughts of the Camino. Is there something wrong with that? A big “NO”! I had the realization that thinking of the Camino or better put thinking things Camino will heal me or bring me farther down that healing road. It can’t be helped, it just is. That was my realization this AM as I invited healing into my body, so imbattled at this point.

If we consider God to be a gathering force, that certainly happened there, in Spain and France. People from all over the planet gathered to cheer each other on as we tromped through a gathering of history. The universe gathered starting with the sun beating on us to the “field of stars” ever present over our heads. The earth gathered to give us merciful clouds, to give us views of nature and agriculture to nurture our souls. The whole thing was a gathering!

If we consider God being a mix of truth, beauty and goodness, that could be found with being open to it. Beauty is perhaps the easiest road and a good one. Goodness seeps through in big and the littlest ways. Seeps is a good word for that. Truth is a concept that seems to be in short supply or our thinking has become muddled perhaps in the world as we know it. I think that the solitude that is truly a part of walking across the Meseta is where this truth comes out. Maybe you have slightly different thoughts or memories but I bet they aren’t far off.

There comes a time when this thinking starts to imbed itself in our hearts and we are no longer simply thinking. I feel that coming. We are on a path, a trail, a road, a Camino to living this stuff, this gathering. Caminoheads on their way to becoming Caminohearts! It’s all a healing force!

Simply Your Felipe. Love you.