March was a month full of miles. Miles flown, miles walked and miles driven.
We flew up north to watch our grandsons early in March while their parents went to an out of town wedding. The older they get the easier...and harder this job gets. I am eternally grateful the internet was not the beast it is now when I was raising my kids. I would not have been very tolerant! Later in March that same family came down to Texas for their spring break. We all drove miles and miles of Texas! We toured Austin, Waco, College Station and Houston along with their universities and various tourist attractions. It is a treat to be a tourist in your own state and city. Texas put on a good show for them as it was bluebonnet season and the spring weather was amazing. Sometimes it all works.
Easter came and went, the dust settled and will be waiting for us once we return from the next adventure.
To prepare for the next adventure, I logged many miles walking in March. There were days I felt like Forrest Gump! Luckily, again, spring weather was nice. I must say, I do like a nice walk. Of course there are many things I could have and probably should have done instead of walking but there you have it. I walked...to get ready to walk some more.
We are walking the Camino Ingles April 7-13 and I am reaching out. When we walked the Portuguese route in 2022 I was excited and nervous. I had done my homework, I thought I had walked the necessary miles to be ready. I was still only 6 months out from my ACL replacement, so I wondered if I had it in me and my knee to finish. We did finish. I also had some intentions I brought along with me on my pilgrimage. I remember when we set off on our first day, full of adrenaline and expectations. I did not need much to motivate me to get to the end of that day's walk, I was on the Camino and I was happy to be there. Around the point where it began to rain on day two and my feet began to remind me that they didn't really walk over 15 miles a day and the adrenaline had worn off I started to realize I had to find something other than just being on the Camino to motivate me. I was on a pilgrimage after all. I decided to pray for different groups of people in my life each day. One day I prayed for my kids. One day for my friends. One day I prayed for the people in my life who died. By the end though, and let me just say by the end, my feet were aching, I was tired and the rain did not help to keep me in a good mood. I found myself praying to my Dad and it had a profound affect on me when I finished. My Dad could not walk much for the last 7 years of his life. I prayed to Dad that I was walking the steps he could not walk in his life. I found myself crying when we finished at the cathedral. Probably part exhaustion and part elation.
We are walking again, this time the Camino Ingles. I am much stronger than I was last time. I have found myself wondering though what or who will I pray for this time. Both my parents are gone and yes, I will carry them with me. I am in a much different place in life than I was in 2022. Then it hit me...in church. I am asking you, my friends, if there is something you would like me to pray for, during my Camino. I will add you to my prayers while I walk. I only ask for your prayers in return, that we make it safely without injury. I don't doubt we will all be fine, but it is still a few more miles than I am used to walking! My feet will hurt! I just hope the rest of me doesn't hurt too much either!
So as I hastily send this out into cyberspace I hope it finds you well! I'll be walking and trying my best to be a good pilgrim.
