1st July Waves

 

Santiago 

If the word for yesterday was muted, today is has been waves. Waves of emotion that hit me hard almost as soon as I awoke. So much so that to my surprise I found myself trying to write this in cathedral square or Praza do Obradoiro, to give it is proper title, through a veil of tears.

There has been waves of happiness at seeing familiar faces from others parts of the caminos arrive in the city...Robert back from his solitary night at Mont Gozo, Luka, Ernesto and Stefano from the del Norte, Paul and Catherine, plus the American group including Donna.

Waves of nostalgia for what these past 30 days and 750 plus km have meant. Waves of pride picking up my Compostella certificates. Waves of grace as I received communion (I figured having walked 460 miles I was 'catholic' enough). Waves of transcendence watching the Botafumerio swing high into the vaulted ceiling of the cathedral. Waves of missing TOM. 

And there was wave after wave of different Camino families that were not mine. Each with their own connections, own stories, own memories. Coming from the del Norte, the Primitivo, the Portuguese, the Frances, the Ingeles and like the lines on the scallop shell that has helped mark the way, all coming together on this square for a final brief moment. In a day or two I will no longer recognise any of the faces.

 My emotional landscape is perhaps best summed not in words of my own but in words from the song 'The Analogue Kid' by Canadian rock group Rush.

"Too many hands on my time.Too many feelings.Too many things on my mind. And when I leave, I don't know what I'm hoping to find. And when I leave, I don't know what I'm leaving behind,"

It's time to set off on the next adventure and I am ready to move on but before I do leave... To all those whose names I can remember from the past 30 days...Peter and Nicole, Christian, Ernesto and Stefano, Rick, Neema, Rocco, Paul and Catherine, Graham and Janet, Heike and James, Ian, Michelle, Vincent and the American group, Josep and Maralene, Leno and his whistling/singing companion, Maya and Nity, Robert, Bryant, Matt, Eric and Monike to name but a few.

To all those whose names have slipped from memory and for all those whose names I regret to say I never asked...thank you. individually and collectively 'YOU' have been the Camino. 

With you, alongside you, through you all, you have made this the experience it was, is and will continue to be. Thank you for blessing me over the past 30 days and beyond. Safe travelling wherever the road takes you and 'Buen Camino'. Until the next time...