Every Step Has Meaning

On June 15^th I finished the Camino de Santiago.

You might be wondering WTF is the Camino?

That is a good question. 

Actually, that is a great question. 

I actually just Googled how many books have been written about the Camino. There was no good number (400 in one year alone) but there was a really, really, really long discussion about it on the Pilgrims Forum – so let’s just say, thousands of books have been written trying to answer that exact question. 

I’ve been thinking about this since I finished walking. Ok, honestly I’ve been thinking about it since before I finished walking.

There’s the standard answers:. a pilgrimage….a super long walk…. St. James…the Milky Way…journey of 1,000,000 steps…energy…life…love

But then I realized – 

The Camino is the second day of my walk. 

The second day when I was grumpy that I didn’t have a bed reservation, that I had to wait in a long line of people who also didn’t have reservations, that there were so many people in line and too many people on the Camino. The day I wanted to email all the people who told me you didn’t need a reservation and tell them what I really thought of their advice. The day that my foot was starting to hurt more than I expected, I was getting my first blister and how long was this whole Camino thing supposed to take anyway?

The second day when I finally found a room and as I’m pondering all the annoyances of my day, thinking about what it’s going to be like when I finish (um seriously…I’m on day 2), wondering what to do about my foot, I meet a woman. A woman in a wiser chapter of her life than me, in the same place, who just finished the same walk and waited in the same line. 

The woman who never thought she’d trek with a pack on her back for a single day.

And she was celebrating, I mean proudest day of her life celebrating, that she just finished two.

The Camino is Amelia.

Amelia runs an albergue for pilgrims. A rather popular albergue actually. And while there are many reasons people would say they love Amelia’s albergue, for me there was only one.

Every morning (yes, every morning) Amelia wakes up with the pilgrims (which is actually ridiculously early) to give each one a hug. But Amelia’s hugs aren’t just a polite goodwill gesture.

Amelia’s hugs are, well Amelia’s hugs are actually hugs. 

Amelia’s hugs are true human connection. 

Amelia’s hugs make you feel like you are the most special (and almost, only) person in the world.

As you are, you are loved and supported and not alone.

Amelia’s hug is your mother’s hug.

Your best friend’s hug.

Your sister’s hug.

It’s not over the top. It’s not a show or a performance. It only last a few seconds, but…

Amelia’s hug is the best hug I’ve ever experienced. 

And everyone else I met felt exactly the same way.

Amelia is not rich from running her albergue but Amelia is wealthier than anyone I know. 

The Camino is Susi.

Susi walked her first Camino in 2012. Then she walked a bunch more. 

Then she sold her place, moved to Spain, opened an alberque and figured out her lucky number when the 27^thpilgrim arrived. 

And the Camino is so many beautiful souls who walked with me along the Way and will forever be a part of my heart but most specially~

Sylvia ~ my Camino sister

Manuel ~ what a gift

Malia ~ OMG are you from Austin?!?

Suzanne ~ who I’ve never met but I already know

Reggie ~ walking faith and surrender

Maria ~ girl we got style

And Marianne, my friend.

Saint John Pied de Port, France > Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 780km

May 12 – June 15, 2019

Buen Camino.

love,

rk