For the last five or six days, it always seems to be cloudy in the morning, (hence the ground fog shots I’ve been able to capture) and when the sun comes up, it greatly reduces the volume of clouds, and what remains is a light cloud cover. This morning, the cloud cover seemed so heavy that I actually thought I might be breaking out the raincoat before the day was over. It also had a nasty feel of wanting to bring Mr. Melancholy back for a return visit. I wasn’t crazy about that idea, so I created a little mantra as I was walking:

Fill me with joy,

Fill me with light, 

Open my heart to gratitude.

I’d say it for a while, until something caught my attention, but eventually would realize that I had stopped, so would start again. You’d be surprised how a little thing like that can put your head into a really good place.  After an hour or so, the clouds broke and we had a day of full sun. I actually had to don the old yellow dew rag to protect the melon. Of course my mantra didn’t make the sun come out. But I was grateful it did,  always have been a sun freak.
You could sense a difference on the trail today. There was the usual banter and conversation, but there was also a little bit of an edge. It’s as if people are realizing that  we’ll reach St. James Cathedral tomorrow. I’m not really sure what to think. I have purposefully tried not to have any ideas about what a pilgrimage is, or should be. I have not adopted any particular practices for pilgrimage. I have tried to keep my eyes and heart open to whatever happened, knowing that it was in fact, part of my pilgrimage. It’s called “don’t know” mind. If you have ideas about how something should be, then you start to filter all experience through the  lens of your particular ideas. Mind will dismiss, or not pay attention to whatever doesn’t fit within your “ideas”. If you have “don’t know” mind, then you are more open to whatever happens, and the possibilities for any particular moment become endless. Today, for me, was just walking in the sun, chanting my little made up mantra and trying not to anticipate what’s going to happen tomorrow when I arrive in Santiago. I leave you today with some quotes that I like. 

“We’re so busy looking out for what’s just ahead of us, that we don’t take the time to enjoy where we are.”    Calvin & Hobbes (fictional characters created by Bill Watterson)

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” Morrie Schwartz

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”     Mother Teresa

“Above all be true to yourself, and if you can’t put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.”     unknown

“Tears are words the heart can’t express.”    unknown

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”     Epicurus

Mickey Hoffmann writes: “I started in Home Health & Hospice as a volunteer. I had been hurt at work and was in a retraining program and volunteering was part of the program. After I completed the program, I was hired at the Home Health & Hospice program as a temporary through a service. I told my husband, “If I didn’t have to work, I would still volunteer at Hospice because they are so good to their patients and employees”. Then a job became available and I applied. That was 20 years ago”

I am happy to report that to date you have generously contributed about $3,500.00 to St. Elizabeth Hospice. I am grateful. If you intend to contribute you can go to the Help St. E page on the website. You will find the link to the St. E page at the bottom, and it will take you to their page. There, select the “other” box, and type in $5. Right below that box is a drill down menu. Please drill down and select Walk with E. Thank you again for your generosity. If you live in the Greater Cincinnati area, there will be a fundraiser next weekend starting at Peewee’s on Anderson Rd. just off Buttermilk Pike. Will have details tomorrow.

Buen Camino