Sometimes it gets cold along the way...

Thanks to my good friend Patty 'R", I was introduced  to this little ditty of a fable.  My little search engine that could advised me that this popular adage made its way through Facebook some time last year and was all the rave - as usual, I am behind the times.  This ability to stay disconnected is comparable to my habit of discovering Oscar winning movies three years after the fireworks are over.  The good news is I arrive at the finish line, eventually, and enjoy good old fashioned jaw dropping cinema.

The Flippity Fable of the Little Porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever -  many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other. After awhile they decided to distance  themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companion, but the most important part of it was the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people,

but the one that forms when individuals learn to live with the imperfections

and admire the good qualities of others. 

The Moral of the story: 

LEARN TO LOVE THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE.

This baby is more of a hedgehog but you get the picture.

Spanish version:

La Fábula del Erizo Durante la Edad de Hielo, muchos animales murieron a causa del frío. Los erizos dándose cuenta de la situación, decidieron unirse en grupos. De esa manera se  abrigarían y protegerían entre sí, pero las espinas de cada uno herían a los compañeros más cercanos, los que justo ofrecían más calor. Por lo tanto decidieron alejarse unos de otros y empezaron a morir congelados. Así que tuvieron que hacer una elección, o aceptaban las espinas de sus compañeros o  desaparecían de la Tierra. Con sabiduría, decidieron volver a estar juntos. De esa forma aprendieron a convivir con las pequeñas heridas que la relación con una persona muy cercana puede ocasionar, ya que lo más importante es el calor del otro. De esa forma pudieron sobrevivir. Moraleja de la historia: La mejor relación no es aquella que une a personas perfectas, sino aquella en que cada individuo aprende a vivir con  los defectos de los demás y admirar sus cualidades. Aprenda a querer las puñetas en tu vida. Te deseo calor humano en el buen camino!

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Another chapter and a new crossroad...

“Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls….” Jeremiah 6:16

Manuel on a cold winter evening playing the harmonica 

In the beginning, we were a healthy and happy lot; our lives were just starting.  It was some time in the eighties our first crop of children had arrived and more were to follow, some still a figment of our imaginations. We were as together and happy as a visit to the Magic Kingdom.

Our travels home to Portugal were the highlight of our years (still are.) Visits were always loud, colorful, flavorful and replete with traditional food celebrations. Supper was a time of confusion and preparations.Our in-house chefs would serve a party of fifteen in a snap and an occasional visitor would always stop by to add another story to the book of life as seen from the mount.  We  were collectively young enough to live in the state of foolishly happy and old enough to visit the land of dreaming far into the future.  The road was wide open and all of us harnessed all of the octane necessary to be environmentally damaging.  We sported the swag that accompanied our laugh.

The years have lifted us up and also beaten us down; together, apart, departing from different starting gates; sometimes mounted on a mustang and other times on a nag.  We have always connected our families by way of a loving bridge between two continents, but have found ourselves sadly apart.  The miles of separation from family have been the most difficult aspect of our married adult lives.  I have been told that many, many suffer from the plight of the diaspora. I was once a refugee, but now  I add Portuguese to my immigrant status since I have always claimed to be Portuguese, by injection; it's time to add our story to the Book of Immigrant's : The Tale of Two Homelands.

This year, in what seams to have been a blink of an eye with an annoying eyelash smack in the middle of it and while still abrasively trying to close the yet fresh open wounds of recent bereavements, our hand has been forced to say goodbye to yet another loved one, my last brother in law still alive. The road has changed again and we no longer walk with the same companions.  The journey is different; no longer fuzzy, comfortable and routine. We now take  baby steps and learn to travel in new numbers and at a different pace, to different locations and with a heavy heart. Rest in peace to brother, father, husband: Manuel.

New chapters are opening and closing faster than I can ignite a Google search engine.  ...Today, what holds most true is that the reason we start things is rarely the reason we continue them.

'Lampara es a mis pies tu palabra, y lumbrera a mi camino." salmo 119:105

Buen Camino, Peregrino! 

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The simple way

A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance  I would like to redefine the terms of the simple pilgrimage.  Life itself is a type of  pilgrimage and every day leads us down a different road. Perhaps the path is not marked by travel guides and maps or a time frame, but the path is marked by the living of life. Some days we walk down a practical road, other days a meditative one and some days can even be arduous; our way markers tend to be to do lists.  The prize comes in the form of check marks next to each task followed by a sense of accomplishment.  Life is the camino.

Although I plan to walk the Way of El Camino Real later this year, I believe my walk began long ago.  My walk has been a simple walk and my camino began with a search for self.  In all, I have  walked many caminos: the camino of a student, of a daughter, an illustrator,a  musician, a wife,  a mother and now what I affectionately call as the camino of my renaissance. El Camino Real is close to my heart because it is different in that it binds me to 2000 years of pilgrims searching for a great and moral spiritual reveal on the same country roads. I embrace that commonality.

I am on a walk now.  I recently committed to an eight week retreat in a Women's Group. My intention was to receive the message of this course and essentially escape from the world for two hours a week for eight weeks.  After the third session, I realized that God had a sense of humor and was not going to allow me to escape - the world followed me into the meetings.

My life motto came back to bite me: "Idle hands are the devil's worship". As it turns out, the group dynamics of these meetings ensure that we not only do homework in the form of thoughtful reflections, in advance, but that we face all of our demons in the context of our group.  In the end, we have a choice, we take these feelings home and rejoice to a sense of peace or fester in  frustration.  It is no secret that group therapy is work. I can now add that  spiritual renewal is harder.

After number three, I came away with an uneasy fit.  I always keep in mind that it is possible that my vision of the world is twisted so I always step back and try to sort out my thoughts . Phase two of the process led me to think that this was not for me.  The obvious decision would be to quit the group, but later I realized that quitting would only be an immediate fix and not a  solution. In revisiting the conversations of the previous meeting,  I  discovered that the world is going to follow me everywhere and I have to learn to find my peace in it. No one can steal my peace unless I let them. Still walking...

Peace and Buen Camino!

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Starting out on a country road from home...

In the shade of the family home in Portugal.

Going in city circles can be rather exhausting but, I have concluded or maybe not, that it makes sense to begin our Camino Real from Ponte de Lima. This particular way marked road takes us on a seven and or eight day excursion by hoof.  Since time is also a deciding factor, this trail is about as much time as  I can dedicate to this pilgrimage - this time.




The original way marked roads begin from Lisbon and Porto, but we can hop on at any point and design our own Way. The trick is to journey the final 100 kms on foot and have the credencial/passport stamped at the designated spots twice a day.  The pot of gold will be that meaty Compostela that affirms that we met all the rules of the road along the Way.

Credencial / passport

After carefully studying my "Pilgrims Guide to the Camino Portugues,' Day one should begin the night before by staying in one of a good number of lodgings at the foot of 'Ponte de Barros.'  This should allow us time for rest and an early rise to head out to our first leg of the journey.

Ponte de Lima - Rubiaes:

First day will resemble something like the following:

Cross the medieval bridge passing the church on the right and pass a cafe also on the right.  Turn right after the cafe down the lane. KSO (keep straight on) for about say 2km and cross the N202 on to a cobblestone path (opposite side of road).  KSO following the way mark of yellow arrows passing under the motorway for just over 1 km until we are facing head on with Igreja Arcozelo and Centro Social.

Are you with me so far? I am not certain I am with me.  It is probably one of those you have to be there moments.

Next: Soon after the church turn left along a narrow boulder-ed path. KSO following arrows for 1.5kms until you reach a road and the bridge over the Rio La Bruja (not a good omen - Bruja..really?)

If we are still in tact, follow the 'road round then turn left' into the winding tracks and lanes for just over another 1.5kms.  This one, again, goes under a motorway.  Follow them-there yellow arrows left and right and cross the "Witch Bridge" via some broad girders ( gur-der] noun - a large beam, as of steel, reinforced concrete, or timber, for supporting masonry, joists, purlins, etc) just in case we get confused we know what it is..these gurders have replaced the collapsed bridge.  Now, that sounds tricky...'collapsed' is the operative word.  Taxi? 


Continued: Follow the path for about another 2kms until the road. Turn right and IMMEDIATELY left, then KSO for 0.5kms until you run into a sign that reads: Revolta and Valinhos Valada, 9kms.  ---Left - IMMEDIATELY to a small chapel and 'useful' shop and bar.  Time to tend to feet...there is a roadside fuente 2kms up the road.   


The next trail entails a 4kms climb.  The route is well way marked.  After 3kms from the fuente we get our first panoramic then we ascend to the top having turned both right and left in about 1 more km.  Next the descent (what goes up must come down) of 1km until we cross a stream.  A further descent lies ahead to the first hamlet and then we pass a Cruceiro after a 0.5 walk.  Continue to an old bridge over a stream.  Follow the arrows across two roads reaching the Pensao San Roque after 1more km.  Praise God for o Reposo Do Peregrino.  


However, if we are at all able to forge ahead, for one more km we get to stay in a much larger albergue.  I remain optimistic!


Day one complete. Stamp. Stamp. Sleep!

Pensao San Roque

Day one: plan for el Buen Camino!

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The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken 

(The Road Less Traveled)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

1874 - 1963 

Robert Frost

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The Inner Journey From the Outside

Armando, my son with his Godfather Adelino

Four years after Tony and I married, we traveled for the first time to Portugal in order to celebrate a family nuptial. Tony's youngest sister was getting married and I was going to meet my new family for the very first time.  As you can imagine, my language skills were at an all time low and I managed to sustain a permanent headache for the first week because of it.  Everyone, with few exceptions, would read my lips as I spoke their native tongue and utter back to me, "Não Percebo!" How could that be? I understood them! I soon secured my niece and nephew who were both under the age of seven to be my official Rosetta Stone for Portuguese-English and English-Portuguese. They were the best translators, ever!  

Never the less, I walked around confused most of the time, especially the first time the family referred to the future bride and groom, my sister and brother in-law named Lina and Lino as 'Os Fradelenses'...(inside joke, indeed). Apparently, the big and fabulous reveal wedding was taking place in a city called Fradelos, hence the term 'Fradelenses'. The same group would further confuse me later by calling them 'Os Madeirenses" because Madeira was their honey moon destination once the vows were exchanged.  "Foi mesmo um gesto de educação! Obrigado!" I contracted permanent wrinkles on my forehead that year.  I own them today.

Thankfully and as fate dictated, I immediately bonded with Portugal and her people many of who are now my family.  After the big family wedding was over, and may I add, the event  lasted a good, steady eighteen hours, I melted into the landscape and swore I would return to live there some day. It is my version of Eden and I am Eve.  This Eve however, contrary to the Eve in  the ancient edition of 'Bible and Garden' is keeping far and away from any and all types of vermin. I am not about to let one bad apple ruin the end of my days.  Sure, I am still waiting to go back and stay but, like my husband says,"ya falto mais." 

Looking back,  I believe we all fell in love with each other on that maiden trip and we have happily returned many times to our beautiful hamlet to visit and spend time with the family. It has been a good life in spite of our immigrant status.

As I formulate the meditative path to Compostela and I chart the path for an early summer walk, I realize that my road will be paved with a lifetime of hiccups, youthful memories, decisions: good and bad, angst's, my family, my life and somewhere in the heart of things the dull pain left behind by having to unwillingly say goodbye to my loved ones in this life. There have been many beautiful people now gone from their earthly residence and I will always hold them ever so close in a special corner of my thoughts and prayers.  I struggle on certain days and in my heart of hearts, I wish they were here.

One of the many unresolved issues that flutter in and out of my constantly changing reality , is the death of Lino.  I have not been able to bring closure to the passing of my brother in law.  Late last year he was hit by a car. The first word that comes to mind is tragic...the other words should be unnecessary loss of life and the last is probably avoidable. I understand that the highway that he was attempting to cross has now been altered so that it is no longer unsafe for pedestrians; other lives will be safe because of him.  To our dismay was our inability to attend the funeral services and be part of the final embraces and tears.  The human condition requires a formal disconnect.  This too was tough to navigate and a reminder that we suffer from a crippling disability called distance.

If I could wish one wish to any and to all, I wish that everyone have a Lino in their lives.  Lino, can only be described as a remarkable man that loved his family, his wife, his three girls and all things agriculture.  He was defined by his joyful constant smile, good spirit and willingness to lend a hand to anyone and everyone. I am certain I saw him take the shirt off his back once to give to someone else.  I still see and hear him - plain as day.  The memory of him tastes sweet and it was a privilege to call him friend and brother.  I can't say for sure, but when someone like him gets called up to meet his maker, you just have to believe that God calls to His presence those good fellows that can march ahead in front of the pack and lay out the way markers for  the rest of us.  Buen Camino, Lino.



This summer trip to Portugal will prove to be a soulful visit. It will be hard to accept an  arrival at our front porch in Adaes and not find Lino zipping by on his moped, inviting us to see his new hatch-lings and or presenting his latest farming inventions.  My next visit to our corner of the world will feel incomplete without him in it. The Way to St. James will serve me in closing many circles. Along this very same road, I will pack with me quite a few memories of some of the finest friends and family that have given color to my canvas and there are many. Too many.

Either way, the goodbye of today is an open door to our next hello tomorrow.

Fly like a bird to the Lord, my soul.

I want to soar like an eagle.

Though I may journey far away from home,

I know I'll never be alone.

Geidy

Gracie

Love the people God gave you because you may have to give them back one day!

Raul, Tio Pepe, Tio Manolo, Abuelo, Abuela

Muy Buen Camino, peregrino!

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A Shrove kind of Evening

Fully knowing that we would be facing a week inclusive of Shrove Tuesday, a.k.a, Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras to be followed by Ash Wednesday and forty days of reflection, a party of eight from area code 305 jumped ahead of schedule and invested in an evening of thoughtful coordination of tastes and vintage brews and smokes.

Need I say more....

A Lenten Camino begins as we walk on a spiritual pilgrimage for forty days in preparation and renewal. 

Ah, of course, the number 40! Forty has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation. On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" (Ex 34:28). Elijah walked "40 days and 40 nights" to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8). Most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public ministry (Mt 4:2).

Later the fasting rules were re-purposed and the the general rule of thumb was for a person to have one meal a day, in the evening or at 3 p.m.  Later there was more edification and  a smaller repast was allowed during the day to keep up one's strength; you know, all that working hard for your money and farm labor thing we do. Eating fish was also allowed, and later eating meat  except on Ash Wednesday and Friday. Dispensations were given for eating dairy products in exchange for good deeds; the pious rule thing.

Over time the rules have been simplified.  Ash Wednesday still marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts for 40 days, not including Sundays. The present fasting and abstinence laws are very simple: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, the faithful fast (having only one full meal a day and smaller snacks to keep up one's strength) and abstain from meat; on the other Fridays of Lent, the faithful abstain from meat. 

And yes,we are still encouraged "to give up something" for Lent as a sacrifice. I am guilty of changing up that rule! I typically do not give anything up. Instead, I make it my personal challenge to go out of my way to be nice to some of God's children, personally known to me, who are simply hard to love.  Try that on for size?

Plain and simple: times have changed but the message is the same, shore up with the man upstairs, work on personal renewal and prepare to celebrate again in forty days.  We, in turn, celebrated last weekend and will be ready to do it again after Easter.  Buen Camino!

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The Pilgrims Mass and the Botafumeiro!

Somehow I always revert back to building a house from the roof down. Sorry, husband of mine, I simply can't resist. Clearly, the journey itself to 'The Way' is the reason for the pilgrimage and I am excited about every path, every blister and every stone that ends up inside my shoe, but the more I read about the arrival to Compostela, my heart goes 'boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom' ... 

According to multiple sources, the Pilgrims Mass is held in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela each day at noon for pilgrims. Pilgrims who received the Compostela the day before have their countries of origin and the starting point of their pilgrimage announced at the Mass. Many times you will find priests serving in the mass still wearing their hiking boots.  The musical and visual highlight of the mass is the  the beautiful "Hymn to Santiago" accompanied by the spectacular swinging of the huge Botafumeiro, the famous  thurible kept in the cathedral. Incense is burned in this swinging metal container, or "incensory". As the last chords fade away, the multitude of pilgrims crowd forward to reach the spiritual highlight of the Mass, the rite of communion.  


Originally, the Botafumeiro, a giant incense burner, was used to fumigate the sweaty and possibly disease ridden pilgrims. Today, a half dozen assistants or Tirabloeiros swing the giant burner in service to God and the pilgrims of the way to St. James.  

Priests administer the Sacrament of Penance, or confession, in many languages, permitting most pilgrims to complete the indulgence attached to the pilgrimage.


I, for one, want to follow the timeworn ritual after entering the city.  I will join the many that have stood before the Tree of Jesse and place my hand in a solid marble imprint of a hand already shaped by millions of pilgrims before me.  I will quietly thank St. James for a safe journey then touch my brow to that of Maestro Mateo in the ritual known as the head-butting saint to magically receive some of his his artistic acumen and descend to the crypt to finally shore up with St. James and my call to pilgrimage.  The roof is up and the foundation will follow.

And that will be a glorious day to a 

Buen Camino!

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El Credencial...

The Confraternity of Saint James

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Eureka! I found the official site Camino de Santiago: Note to self: and this is important...Today, I registered with the Confraternity of St. James and the American Pilgrims on the Camino for the (CAMINO PORTUGUES)and now I need to figure out the "when." Decisions and more decisions...all the piggies are lining up in a row.

How and where to get a credencial/Pilgrim Passport

Of all the questions we get asked, this is the most frequent, so we're devoting a whole page to it.

1. If you're a member of the Confraternity:

Apply by post, in good time (ideally 1-2 months before your pilgrimage) to the Pilgrim Records Secretary - name and address on the back of your Bulletin - enclosing an SAE, quoting your membership number, stating where you're starting from, and how you intend to travel. N.B. each member of a group needs his or her own pilgrim record.

Postage rates for your SAE (within the UK) are:

For 1-3 Pilgrim Records: an A5 SAE with 2 first-class stamps;
For 4-7 Pilgrim Records: an A4 SAE with 3 first-class stamps;
For 8-10 Pilgrim Records: an A4 SAE with 4 first-class stamps.

N.B. your stamps should be at the rate prevailing for 28 days after you make your request (to allow for absence on the part of the Pilgrim Records Secretary).

Please ensure you pay the correct postage on your letter to the Pilgrim Record Secretary-many requests are being delayed due to insufficient postage -you usually need to pay a Large Letter rate - and CSJ cannot always guarantee to collect your letter form the local PO sorting office or pay the extra postage.

NB The system works best if you join CSJ first and then wait for your welcome letter and membership number and the correct address to send your request.

For overseas requests send 3 International Reply Coupons only. No envelope is required.

2. If you're not a member of the Confraternity:

If you chose not to become a member of the Confraternity do not apply to us.

Where you should apply depends on your starting point. You will be able to obtain a credencial as you start your pilgrimage. In Spain, the credencial is widely available through local Amigosassociations, generally for a recommended donation of €0,75.

Starting Point	Where to apply
le Puy	the Cathedral, or the local association of the Amis de St Jacques
St Jean Pied-de-Port	Accueil St Jacques, 39 rue de la Citadelle
Roncesvalles	the Abbey
Pamplona	the main building (Edificio Central) of the University of Navarra, where the Pilgrim Office and Alumni Office is open 24/7.
Other places in Spain	the local albergue, the church, the police station, the guardia civil, the ayuntamiento, the office of the local Amigos del Camino de Santiago.

3. If you live in the USA, Canada, or Ireland:

Apply to the local association:

For the USA, American Pilgrims on the Camino

For Canada, The Little Company of Pilgrims.

For Ireland, the Irish Society of the Friends of St James.

This page updated by he
on 31/08/2011
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Founded in 1983 to promote the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela

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BUEN CAMINO!

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