Getting closer

Here it is the day of summer solstice the first day of summer and I have to look forward to commencing the Camino the first week of September I took the day off today to do some chores and some maintenance work around the house and to wait on the termite inspector to do my annual inspection. So apart from that drum, I am becoming both anxious and optimistic about the epic journey that awaits me in September A few years ago I read a book by Noel Braun, an Australian, who at the age of 77 embark on the Camino de Santiago after suffering the loss of his wife. I readily identified with Noel in suffering the loss that I had experienced in losing my wife Cathy four years ago to younger-onset Alzheimer’s.

In his book, Noel searched and thrashed about for quite some time until happening upon the Camino, based on the recommendation of a friend. In my own case, I had heard vague references to the Camino in my childhood, particularly with regard to the city of Santiago Decost Stella, as the place of the tomb of Saint James, the Apostle. I filed that away, not giving much thought about it until years later when my younger brother Eric had mentioned having seen a movie directed by Emilio Estevez called “The Way.” After seeing that film I was committed to walking the Camino at some point in my life, but at the time simply could not see how or when. So now this opportunity has unfolded I have lost my wife and said goodbye. I have wrapped up a long working career and retired for the third and final time, my kids are grown, and I am prepared to make changes in my life.

Who knows where this will leave me on the Camino and afterwards, but I look forward to it with a little bit of apprehension but at the same time with excitement.