They say the Meseta messes with your mind. Endless plateau for ten days. Today was actually lovely. Just enough ruins and churches to break the monotony of the horizon. A lovely warm breeze and a few clouds to prevent the heat of the direct sun. Oh, and of course a few lovely bars with coffee and servicios--And my fellow pilgrims:
• Thirty-two beds in the Albergue. Nine are filled with Canadians. "It's Leonard Cohen's birthday", someone says. "He would be 83" comes from another corner of the room. "Dance Me to the End of Love....what I would give to hear Dance me to the End of Love", yet another Canadian pipes up. Of course, Dad has it on his phone. As Cohen belts out the poetic lyrics not a single one of us speaks. We are all transported to a time when both L.C. and ourselves were much younger. Great Canadian Moment?--I think so! Blessed by Cohen's "singing"?--another Camino miracle😄 • Quietly spreading some unidentifiable jam on my morning toast while I practice being thankful for toast. "Can you hold this sign for a picture", she says. She is from SOUTH Korea--she is very clear about the SOUTH. She wants us to know she is proud of her current government, appreciates peaceful protest, and believes in co-operation between Budists1, Budists2, Catholics, and Christians. "Do we know that South Korea also has a pilgrimage route?", she asks. Chimyeongja means someone who devotes his or her own life in spite of the cost. A pilgrimige to Chimyeongjasan Holy Ground to pray for Korean Catholic martyrs who died for their faith is South Korean Camino of sorts. I am humbled by how little I know of the suffering of others. Thank you. I continue to heal. I showered with a plastic grocery bag on my foot. Quite the sight at the Albergue. I am grateful to be able to keep walking. Another new friend went home yesterday--unable to continue. We are over 300 km now. You are Always in My Prayers. Love Mom.
2 Comments
Nano
9/22/2017 07:16:16 am
So proud! Amy and I listened to some LC last night too (though it was his song about death and darkness...probably not Camino appropriate). We miss you terribly but are super proud! Keep kicking ass.
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Mom
9/22/2017 08:18:32 am
Well, you know LC is always on Dad's playlist. Miss you...hugs to Amy and Dale❤️
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Ray & Diane HomewoodSharing the Blessing of Travel Archives
January 2018
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