I come from a tradition of giving back what has so freely been given to me. I was so grateful for the kindnesses that had been given to me on my first Camino, that I wanted to repay these kind acts in some small way. I learned there would be a training course to be a hospital era at the annual Gathering of the American Pilgrims on the Camino in Santa Barbara, a short drive up the California coast from my home. A hospitalero is the person who works in the albergue tending to the needs of the pilgrims arriving each day. The actual activities vary from albergue to albergue but may include checking pilgrims into the alberburgue, listening, answering questions; giving directions to the first aid supplies, bars, medical care or other places; cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, or just being a cheerful presence.
So I signed up to go for the training since it was close to home and in a beautiful location. And because I was going for the training, I thought I might as well stay for the whole week end. I am so grateful I was led to do this. I learned a lot and met some amazing people. The whole Gathering was filled with information and I had one awareness after another. I learned I wasn’t the only one who carried bears in my back pack. I learned I wasn’t the only one who felt bereft when I reached Santiago. I became aware of the life change that had been occurring as a result of the Camino. And I think in some weird way I became comfortable with the journey that continues to this day.
After the Gathering, I got word that someone dropped out of the the Amigos program for the last two weeks of July, meaning the time of the Feast of Santiago. I was asked if I wanted to do it. I had not planned on walking the Camino last year, but this was an opportunity too good to pass up. I asked my husband if he minded going again that year and he said, “Why would I mind?” Did I mention that I have the best husband in the world? I accepted this assignment and also applied to be a hospitalera. I was accepted as a hospitalera at El Burgo Ranero. It turned out that when I was in Spain I got an email asking me if I could switch to Bercianos for the same time period. I agreed and I believe it was an example of the Camino providing what I needed.
So I book my flights to allow enough time for all of this adventure. After my experience the year before I believe that, for me, nothing changes, if nothing changes. If I go on an adventure making sure I have all the comfort and security I would have at home, it is unlikely that there will be any dramatic experience or change. I had almost shut myself off from the possibility the previous year with all my planning and caution. Fortunately for me, the Camino disrupted all my careful planning that first year. I got hurt, I got lost, I survived, and I grew. I believe now that the Camino is supposed to be hard. It is supposed to challenge me. No matter how carefully I planned or what I brought with me, the Camino provided the unexpected, unplanned events that I had not prepared for. I wouldn’t change a moment of the adventure. My friends who followed me on my blog the first year, wrote and said I sounded so relaxed the second year.
So I approached the next Camino with a lot less worry and planning. I believed that the Camino itself would decide what adventures I would have, what lessons I would learn, and how it would change me; if I just let go and let it work. I did and it did.
I worked in the Pilgrim’s Office for two weeks. I was so excited because I was going to be there during the Feast of St James, which is a week long celebration with all kinds of ceremonies, events and activities. Then on the eve of the Feast Day, the train wreck happened on the train from Madrid to Santiago. Many people died and others were severely injured. all activities were cancelled. The city was in shock. It wasn’t the experience I expected, it was difficult. But it was an opportunity to be of service in a different way.
Overall my experience in the pilgrim’s office was amazing. I had the opportunity to get to know the people who worked there, exchanging life stories and jokes. I got to greet pilgrims arriving full of joy and the feeling of “having made it.” Some laughed and slapped hands, some cried, some just needed a hug and someone to share the moment. Some were old and some were very young, and all the ages in between. People from all over the world arriving at this one spot because the Camino had called them. I got my Camino tattoo in Santiago. I would walk dwn the streets of Santiago and pilgrims I had greeted would call out to me, want to take their picture with me or of my tattoo, ask me to joint them, hugged me. It was phenomenal!
After Santiago, I made my way to SJPP to begin walking. Despite the fact that I had never gone without a bed the last time, I started to get caught up in the panic of the other pilgrims; panic about beds, worrying during the day if I would get to the next village in time to get a bed, what would I do if I didn’t. At some point early on, I realized, that I was ruining my own peace of mind by focusing on the bed situation all day. It kept me from taking the time to take pictures and enjoy the journey. A phrase came to mind, “I will get to where I am supposed tone, when I am supposed to be there.”
After that, it was just a grand adventure. I got lost and ended up hitchhiking back to the Camino. I got last and ended up in the back seat of a police car, because I was walking on a freeway, and was taken back to the Camino. I get lost a lot. I think I may be the queen of lost. I could get lost in my small two foot by four foot closet. I have been lost in a number of cities in several countries, including twice in cities in mainland China, where even if there were street signs, I couldn’t have read them. I am easily distracted by beauty, sidetracked by quirky things, and often lose track of time and place, Getting allowing myself to get lost is a way of letting go, letting things unfold, being adventurous. I’ve discovered over the years that getting lost is not so scary, if I don’t panic and just enjoy the adventure.
In my relaxed state on my second Camino, I met people, lots of people. I made good friends from all over the world that I am still in touch with today. I ate, I walked, I slept, I laughed, I cried, I stopped and cheered for the caterpillar to get across the trail before it got stepped on. I took pictures. The most phenomenal picture I have ever taken occurred because I woke up early to the sounds of other pilgrims packing up and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I got up got ready and headed out the door after coffee and biscuits. It was the night of the blue moon. The moon was setting and the sun was coming up. It was extraordinary in every sense of the word.
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