Too tired to post much. It was an incredible weekend and I am in recovery mode. Farmer John is here an extra day to help clean up. Everything good but exhausted.
incredible weekend loves, Felipé.
PHIL’S CAMINO WALKING SCHEDULE
Monday 0900-1000
Tuesday 1600-1700
Thursday 0900-1000
Sunday 1600-1700
Felipé
I’m pretty close to exhausted but still standing and it’s only morning. We have our normal Monday morning walk and then a few sights to see around the Island. You can’t come to Vashon without going to see the Point Robinson Lighthouse for one. And there is a labyrinth that we need to find and walk. But we are all, who are left, mostly enjoying the afterglow of the weekend.
Yesterday we had our standard walk and tapas which is always good. And we had an additional walk in the morning to learn and say the rosary. Our gathering of Bureau Chiefs had our meeting, the first ever. There were five of us present, four BC’s and myself. There were four not present. There are minutes that are being typed up and will be available. And last evening before I crashed which was pretty early Padre Tomas very lovingly anointed me with oil and everyone had a part in that. Very special in indeed.
So, it has been fun and loving, deep and moving, challenging and reassuring. It has been all the things that I had hoped for and more. There are a heap of take-a-ways.
heap-o-love, Felipé.
Sunday morning here in the neighborhood. Had way through the proceedings. So much has happened so far it is hard to contemplate that there will be more. Will I still be standing.
The apparent high point of yesterday was the showing of the film and that went well. Great Q and A with Annie, my Rebecca, Dr Zucker, Wiley and myself. It was only the second time that I had seen this version and it held up well. Thank you all who came.
So I am just going to post two items, one from Cris and one from Annie that I see this morning:
Hola Felipe,
What a Saturday…!!!! I am so joyful and grateful for having been invited to this party (not the Veranda per se, but the party that Caminoheads is!)
Yesterday was a day packed with yellow arrows… with hints on how to be a better pilgrim, a better neighbor, a better human… Dr. Z. in the Q&A said that you are a “normal man”, then the missal said it was it was an “ordinary day”, and in all the reflections each of the “speakers” shared yesterday, we were talking about “daily stuff”, nothing spectacular, all “stuff” that is at our fingertips … and I went to bed thinking how the world has changed and will change because of what happened these days… the ripples of the goodness, the generosity, the love, the hugs, the joy, the celebration of LIFE, the companionship, the friendship, the neighborness (catch that new word!), the togetherness, and all the other experiences that can be felt but cannot be named, all resulting from the Veranda.
What a joy loves,
Cris (your neighbor)
Hey there Felipe,
What a beautiful sunrise this morning. It warms my heart to think of the sun rising over all the pilgrims sleeping all around and bash on Island this morning.
Pilgrims from here, there, and everywhere. All with that beautiful heart and soul of a pilgrim, the pilgrim spirit that loves to give and also delights in receiving, the pilgrims who love to walk and talk, to laugh and cry with one another, to listen and to share with one another. You created this space this weekend, Felipe! How grateful I am. Or maybe it’s like you said, it created itself. Maybe it is beyond you, and we have just touched the hem of what is truly possible when we let love be our guiding force.
I am so grateful, for so much. Thank you.
Peace-
Annie
Am I the luckiest guy in the world to have fallen into this situation with these folks around me. See you tomorrow.
touching the hem loves, Felipé.
We are experiencing a deep manifestation of God’s love here at the Ranch. We had a marvelous first day yesterday and things are ramping up for more shenanigans today. I have a feeling that this energy will start to be noticed from space.
Annie, Esther and Pilgrim Farmer John are coming in sometime before the film. Cathy and Tim coming in and more. Things are humming!
We walk into Santiago this AM on Phil’s Camino our 909 laps will be completed God willing. Then a few hours break and then off to the Vashon Theater for the high noon showing of Phil’s Camino – So Far So Good. Phil’s Camino is up on the movie house marquee next to Apocalypse Now. Maybe it’s two for the price of one.
Anyway we are merrily pilgriming along here. The best to you there. Know that you are loved.
noticed from space loves, Felipé.
Here we are 8:40 AM. Have coffee brewed and stories are coming out in droves just with the few of us present so far. The rain has stopped for good, fingers crossed. Looking like Spain in August here early this morning.
William CCBC and Rho CSWBC are here with me starting this out. Will just write a few words in this lull to let you know what we are up to. So, with that I need to get back to scurrying around getting the venue oh so just so.
Oh so just so loves, Felipé.
Well, we had a practice last evening, Cynthia from Minnesota and Cris from Buenos Aires were here with My Rebecca and me. We tapa’d away with the rain still sprinkling just to see how things would go and I am happy to report it was a complete success.
It started with a trickle but more pilgrims coming in today. So we are all happy so far waiting for the sprinkles to stop and the sun to come out. Not sprinkles but twinkles is what we need. Have to pick up a couple of strings of twinkle lights yet, thanks for reminding me.
Boy, have to report something very serious that occurred last evening. Cris, who works in the field of clinical trials took a look at the paperwork for my trial and looked up info on the internet. And she explained some important parts of my treatment that is a cause for great hope. I could be doing way better than I realized. So see, the Veranda is paying off bigtime even before it starts. Maybe we have seen nothing yet!
I really did need some good news on that account. It is all a long haul for me and my “fight” or my hobby. And a little bright light is heartening. It is a great way to start the weekend!
Don’t forget the Phil’s Camino – So Far So Good documentary at the Vashon Theater at high noon on Saturday. Bring some neighbors too. We need to pack the place like last time. Also having a showing in Seattle at Calvary: the Hill on E. Howell on Capital Hill. That on is September 27th. Rebecca and I will be there for Q and A.
Have a walk at 9 in a few minutes. Charlie and Cris will be here for that. We are so close to Santiago and should be there at the end of Saturday 9AM walk. I have been dragging my feet waiting for everyone to catch up. So God willing we will be there!
high noon loves, Felipé.w
It is a pretty good rain so far today. It is more than just one of those that “just settles the dust”. The firemen are loving it this kind of rain. And it should be over today and it will serve to freshen up the whole outdoors. August can give that look of well used and this will help soften that up a little.
This evening Marla and Carol the Handler are coming in by rental car. They are staying at Kelly’s along with Mary Margaret. And also our Chief Instigator Cris Milher, Caminoheads South America Bureau Chief, will be flying in and I will be picking her up at the ferry dock. She is staying in the neighborhood at Charlie and Marcy’s. And I say Chief Instigator because this gathering was her idea in the first place when she said sometime last winter, “Why don’t we try to get all the bureau chiefs together.” Sounds pretty innocent the way she put it.
But now things have progressed from gathering to shindig and it hasn’t even started yet. Could hit a full blown hullabaloo by the time it’s over. Afterward when folks have moved on there may remain a sort of crop circle that can be seen from space. “Geez, what happened there?”
This whole thing seems to be akin to the situation when I was a kid. I spent the early part of my childhood in the city before we escaped to the suburbs. This was before the day of all the electronic gizmos obviously, back in a forgotten century. And our biggest joy was to find an empty lot to play in. Just a place, a venue to get together and expand in. That’s what the Veranda looks like to me.
I am going to take advantage of the rest of the morning to write a few words for a friend’s memorial service. So happens that it is this weekend and there was no way that I could get out there so I am going to write a little something that someone could read there. This morning seems like the perfect and only time to do that.
Well, that’s what it looks like on the ground here at the ranch. Hope to see most of you soon if not at the Veranda then someotherwhere.
empty lot loves, Felipé.
We made vast progress yesterday with help from Linda, Gary and Sybil. We got the the deck cleaned and the outdoor kitchen set up and it looks very official. Today another big day with the porta potties coming. That’s when you know you really have something going on when the porta potties come rolling in!
We have sunshine right away this morning with a pretty nice blue sky with maybe a slight haze. Have to keep that corn ripening!
Someone suggested that we have a gift table where you can take something you like and leave something that maybe you are tied of or don’t use anymore. Pilgrimage related items and preferably light weight, no cast iron waffle irons for instance no matter how Spanish!
I have a video conference later this morning. Annie and I are doing a Q and A for a showing of the film in Philadelphia for a large cancer support group. I am glad that I didn’t have to travel for this one up so close in time to the Veranda.
OK, well I will go out a take a pic of the outdoor kitchen for you. And I will get this out to you so that I can get going on my day, porta potties and all.
Tuesday loves, Felipé.
Hello gang! Have a walk this morning at 9 and then we are starting to put it together, the physical Veranda that is. I’ve been mowing and weed whacking and now we get to the fun stuff. My Rebecca and I are off to get tables. Have people coming to set up the outdoor kitchen.
Also setting up a welcome table. Need to have folks sign in and be shown where to park and etcetera. We made party favors and you are going to like those. That’s all part of welcome.
People are starting to show up to help. But folks from out of town are starting to come tomorrow. Well, we will just put them to work, that’s what I say.
On the topic of weather, the temps are high 60’s and low 70’s in the day and high 50’s at night. Mostly partial cloudy through the week and the up coming Veranda weekend. Might be a little rain Wednesday, the day after tomorrow. Well, I’ll take that, not too hot. Maybe you California folks might want to throw in an extra parka.
So, on the topic of meals the basic concept is that it will be a potluck situation overall. So, bring something to contribute. I plan on having some things here to fill in the gaps. And we will have corn and berries compliments of Mother Nature. And we will have condiments and coffee. That is a little sketchy way to operate but pilgrims can handle that. There will be the outdoor kitchen to prep things for the table.
OK, I am alternating between anxiety and tremendous confidence about this whole arrangement. But I have high hopes in you to help pull this together. Pilgrims are flexible, resourceful and charming. That’s what I am counting on.
OK, off to the morning walk.
flexible, resourceful and charming loves, Felipé.