You have to hand it to whoever thought of that one, “ raining cats and dogs”. It’s not like a violent rain but one that will be here for a while. Perfect morning for blogging and working in the shop. Some gray, grayer and grayest clouds overhead.

On public television they are showing this incredible new documentary from Ken Burns entitled Country Music. Has he ever done anything bad? Anyway, very fun and poignant side by side.

Well, I finally got something approximating a thank you letter out on yesterday’s post. And Cris the darling wrote an addition comment that knocked my socks off and continues the theme. I am going to give it to you here because it is so good and heartfelt. And now that you met her at the Veranda you can hear her voice as you read.

“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”

Whoa, 790 words, I’m breaking my own rules.

grateful rainy day loves, Felipé.