WTF Was That? (The Anniversary Post 3 Months Late)

So this October marked a year since I completed my Camino journey. My plan was always to write an anniversary post to reflect upon the lessons I learned on my walk and how they impacted me in the year that followed. This would be the final entry on the Camino blog. A nice little bow to wrap it up. A Camino mic drop if you will.

Then 2020 happened. All I can say about this year is, WTF was that? I want to go on the record (is this the record?) as saying that my inconveniences this year are minor compared to so many other people who have suffered with either health or financial issues due to the pandemic, wildfires or both. I appreciate how lucky I am. My position at work translated easily to being remote as did Michele’s. We are in a position that we can socially isolate with relative ease due to our proximity to stores that offer curbside pickup and the ever present, and always dangerous, Grub Hub. That said, this year blows. Aside from the plague and the fires, let’s not forget the horribly divisive election that seems to have brought out the worst in this country.

Around September Michele and I were able to step away from work for awhile and chose to do so. We aren’t certain exactly what we will do in the long term but we do know that travel, as soon as it is allowed and safe, is in our future. While we might not know where or when we will be going, I know one thing for certain. I want to walk the Camino Frances again, and here’s why : the Camino Frances is the anti-2020. I want to walk for days on end. I want to talk to other pilgrims and eat in crowded little cafes. I want to hug strangers that later become friends. That’s how I want to live. Hopefully we can all do those things soon.

I don’t know when I will do this. I’ve got some other long walks I want to do first (and Michele has agreed to go with me!). There’s the Kerry Way in Ireland and the Julian Alps in Slovenia. There’s also St. Olafs Way in Norway. And there’s one in Cotopaxi in Ecuador. Anyway, there’s a bunch. I intend to keep blogging about them on this site as we go.

The Camino has been there over 1,000 years so I’m confident it will be there when I can return. If you’re reading this, I hope you beat me there. Except if it’s you Michele. You have to wait.