I found this quote on another Santiago de Compostela blog site. A woman on a train gave the advice to the pilgrim whose site I'm quoting: http://denise-camino.blogspot.com/2007/09/angels.html
On a pilgrimage, we meet ourselves and we meet God too. A pilgrimage strengthens one's soul. In life, we must not pass ourselves by. We must live completely. Head on with our true self.
This is so true. Have I not said this in my other posts? On Gossamer?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sunrise, Sunset
One thing that has lingered with me since returning from my Camino has been watching and appreciating sunrises and sunsets. I made a concerted effort while on the Camino to stop, turn around and F-E-E-L the sunrises. Sunsets, I sometimes missed there. I have a beautiful view of the winter sunsets from my home, and I do take the time to watch them begin and end. I know that I'm supposed to hold on to this appreciation and ritual because the sunrise shown above is the one I experienced the morning after I returned from Spain. I was wide awake due to the time zone shift and was present and had the presence to STOP and take it all in.
The picture below is of me leaving Eunate. A little pilgrim fun.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Javier
Javier had his daughter write to me today!! He was the hospitalerio who was so kind to me in Granon. I am so glad to be in touch with him (through her)!He took me up to the bell tower at the church and let me see the entire valley and hillsides. He had me help with dinner.
The funniest part is he had me translating to/for him with the English speaking pilgrims - like I speak Spanish with any fluency!! (I'm working on that).
He was a wonderful man (and he can cook!) who helped me on a very sad day.
I have made this dinner twice now for my friends - I brought much home - thanks to him!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A youtube video of the Camino
The video and music is beautiful. The recollection made me cry.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kLlQzkTfZu0
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kLlQzkTfZu0
Walk It Forward
Remember the footprint pins Dwight gave me to give to people on the Camino? They're still walking. A fellow pilgrim wrote to me this morning:
"Looking at the feet you gave me, the lapel pin with the three feet, 'm thinking of giving them away to a friend who is going to walk the camino next year. I already gave her a shell this summer and when I'm are going to meet her again I'm intending to give her the feet under with the best wishes and the desire that if she completes her camino, she'll pass the feet to another Pilgrim. This way, or that way? - the feet always will be walking with one pilgrim or another. Do you give me permission to give through your present? I think it's better for them to move than to lay on my desk, don't you think so. Of course I'll make a photograph of them before saying goodby!"
This is so beautiful!
"Looking at the feet you gave me, the lapel pin with the three feet, 'm thinking of giving them away to a friend who is going to walk the camino next year. I already gave her a shell this summer and when I'm are going to meet her again I'm intending to give her the feet under with the best wishes and the desire that if she completes her camino, she'll pass the feet to another Pilgrim. This way, or that way? - the feet always will be walking with one pilgrim or another. Do you give me permission to give through your present? I think it's better for them to move than to lay on my desk, don't you think so. Of course I'll make a photograph of them before saying goodby!"
This is so beautiful!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Desperately Seeking Jerry
If any of my wonderful readers know how to reach Jerry from Ireland, please let me know. He was a significant part of my camino.
Here are some clues:
Jerry
Ireland
wife named Lilly
tall
Was going to Leon to meet Lilly and complete Camino with her at another time.
Described as the fast walker
Catholic
Loved Roses
Hung out with Cedric and Jorg
Caught up with me on many a morning (I left early) and would walk with me for a town or two.
Gracias and thank you!
Here are some clues:
Jerry
Ireland
wife named Lilly
tall
Was going to Leon to meet Lilly and complete Camino with her at another time.
Described as the fast walker
Catholic
Loved Roses
Hung out with Cedric and Jorg
Caught up with me on many a morning (I left early) and would walk with me for a town or two.
Gracias and thank you!
Klaus
Klaus found me :) I'm so glad.Klaus and I walked together one day and part of another. When I met him we were decending a fairly steep hillside. He was so sweet, standing close by me to be sure I was OK, but still letting me find my own way. We walked and talked for awhile.
I saw him again on the way up Alto de Perdon, outside of Pamplona.
I told him then that it was the highest incline/descent we'd be facing on the whole trip. I was wrong. At least now I can apologize for my misinformation.
Monday, November 12, 2007
The 23rd Psalm
When I see my walking stick out of the corner of my eye, the 23rd Psalm comes to mind. I've added a few Camino moments to it....did you feel it?
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. (I had everything I needed - it came to me.)
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: (I had several rests beside the road, in the beauty of the countryside. I revel in the sunrises and sunsets, still.)
He leadeth me beside the still waters. (I dipped my feet in cold, refreshing streams and drank of the purest water.)
He restoreth my soul (I am touched by the Camino and the joy that prevails in my heart.)
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake. (Humanity was at its best on the Camino.)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, (I walked alone, and sometimes in the darkness of of the morning, and I felt safe.)
For thou art with me; (Not a moment did I doubt it.)
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. (My walking stick was my strength when I had none, my trust when I needed some.)
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. (We, of all nations and beliefs, shared food together).
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, (I pray the Camino stays in my heart) and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever (and the faith I have so deeply felt, will nourish me forever).
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. (I had everything I needed - it came to me.)
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: (I had several rests beside the road, in the beauty of the countryside. I revel in the sunrises and sunsets, still.)
He leadeth me beside the still waters. (I dipped my feet in cold, refreshing streams and drank of the purest water.)
He restoreth my soul (I am touched by the Camino and the joy that prevails in my heart.)
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake. (Humanity was at its best on the Camino.)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, (I walked alone, and sometimes in the darkness of of the morning, and I felt safe.)
For thou art with me; (Not a moment did I doubt it.)
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. (My walking stick was my strength when I had none, my trust when I needed some.)
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. (We, of all nations and beliefs, shared food together).
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, (I pray the Camino stays in my heart) and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever (and the faith I have so deeply felt, will nourish me forever).
The Answer Is Here
I just posted a question on my other blog that really will proffer no finite answers but....in hitting "Publish Post", I realized the answer was given to me on the Camino.
The non-answer is within the question itself.
The answer is that it hasn't been my time. I have been, for a time, for others. What a lovely gift to have been given, of being a gift. As perplexing as this sounds, I will bet that you, my Camino friends will understand.
The non-answer is within the question itself.
The answer is that it hasn't been my time. I have been, for a time, for others. What a lovely gift to have been given, of being a gift. As perplexing as this sounds, I will bet that you, my Camino friends will understand.
Friday, November 09, 2007
La Cena Es Mañana Toda la España
Tomorrow is my "annual" hosting of the wine club. I belong because of my friend - it is her housing development's club. Once a year they come off the mountain to my house. The group is a wonderful, interesting bunch. They were very involved with my Camino and tomorrow we all do a virtual Camino together.
We will have tapas, polvorones, manchego cheese, goat cheese, salad, almonds, tarta de Santiago, membrillo, chocolat de Santiago, fig spread, pan, the dinner made in Granon, and wines from Navarra, Rioja, Castilla y Leon, and Galacia.
I'ts been fun to night to decorate, review my pictures and put Spanish flashcards around the house.
The camino stays with me and I like it!
We will have tapas, polvorones, manchego cheese, goat cheese, salad, almonds, tarta de Santiago, membrillo, chocolat de Santiago, fig spread, pan, the dinner made in Granon, and wines from Navarra, Rioja, Castilla y Leon, and Galacia.
I'ts been fun to night to decorate, review my pictures and put Spanish flashcards around the house.
The camino stays with me and I like it!
The Camino Did It.
Denise summed it up so well in her email today - this sent shivers up my spine.
"It's so wonderful being unconditionally happy."
I so understand.
"It's so wonderful being unconditionally happy."
I so understand.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
Lessons From The Camino
I'm (happily) learning that you can take a girl off the Camino, but you can't take the Camino out of the girl.
People are still asking me about my trip. The walking, the spiritual gifts, my Camino friends, the country, the lessons, the memories, have not left me.
It actually grows within me. While once the Camino was merely a thought, then a dream, then a reality (and sometimes a pain in the footsie), then a memory, the lessons learned have become a reality of my days. A part of me.
I'm not perfect and in real life I stumble being the person I was called to be on the Camino. But, I've been changed and for the most part it has stuck with me. As did my friends from here while I was on the Camino and have my Camino friends since we parted.
It is beautiful.
People are still asking me about my trip. The walking, the spiritual gifts, my Camino friends, the country, the lessons, the memories, have not left me.
It actually grows within me. While once the Camino was merely a thought, then a dream, then a reality (and sometimes a pain in the footsie), then a memory, the lessons learned have become a reality of my days. A part of me.
I'm not perfect and in real life I stumble being the person I was called to be on the Camino. But, I've been changed and for the most part it has stuck with me. As did my friends from here while I was on the Camino and have my Camino friends since we parted.
It is beautiful.
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