Thinking about the many times I have uttered or heard others utter these 6 words and reflecting upon the past year or so, the day I walked into Portomarin comes to mind.

 

Life has been, for me, a beautiful collage of people joining me along the journey to The End, an unknown place that most certainly has a great coffee shop and bakery.  And together with those special people I had the opportunity to solve puzzles, problems and riddles of life.  Entering Portomarin combines all these things for me.  I bet you have such a  place as well.

 

Why Portomarin?  It is just a few days from Santiago. It was where I became concerned that I wouldn’t know how to live a life with more than one shirt to choose from every morning and it included some special pathways I had to navigate.

 

For me it was that bridge which created a terrifying optical scenario.  One of my family members walking behind me could sense it and it made her laugh.  She even took this picture to show me that I was OK.  I wasn’t convinced. I tried to do all the physical and emotional things to assure my safety and comfort but somehow I was overcome by the thought of gravity taking me down, or limiting on my freedom of movement.  I was afraid of falling off into the water below.  Completely unlikely, but it consumed me.  Do you recall your walk across that bridge?  No problem, right?

 

I actually held my hand to the left of my eyes so I couldn’t see the water below and I shook visibly.  Have you been there and done that?

 

I was so relieved at the end of the bridge. I looked left and right to check for vehicles and then, straight ahead, I saw those stairs. I was drained from the bridge experience and now I had to climb what looked to me like hundreds of stairs.  No way! Again, like life, I sometimes celebrate survival only to face some unforeseen obstacle requiring immediate attention.  I took off my backpack and sat at the bottom of the stairs as people walked past me.  Eventually I got up and made it to the top of the stairs.  I was drained.

 

Then I found out that the albergue my family had chosen was on the far side of the town.  Again, just like life, sometimes when we think we arrived there is one more step.  Take a deep breath.  Take another.  Control the envy for those sitting at Cafés chatting with friends.  Meet the challenge. In reality it was likely less than ten minutes to get to my resting place for the night, but being unknown, it was tough.

 

But just like life, when I saw the albergue sign and one of my family members out front the emotional and physical rewards began to flow through me and all was well.  I knew that after the ritual register, shower, wash clothes, have café con leche (or was it a beer on this occasion?) all would be well and our time together would subdue the feelings of the last hour or so.  Life was good, we were all safe, together and able to once again let love flow around the table.

 

I write these words as a reminder to myself that the challenges I have faced and continue to face do have pathways and comrades to guide, support and comfort me.  Please join me in celebrating the journey, the people along the way, even the bridges and stairs.  A full life requires this and more.  Keep your eyes up to not miss who and what is coming. ¡Buen Camino!

 

In Just-Like-Life Love,

Ronaldo