Letting go

Because of the start date of my trip, and the timing of the year, I got to see luscious red grapes on the vine, ready for harvest, and so sweet to taste.

For that same reason, the wheat fields were largely gone, cut over, and the sunflowers were mostly but dried stalks facing east, heads bowed in unison, in mourning or prayer, who could day, soon to be expressed to make oil.

Ecclesiastes tells us there’s a time for everything.

Today we lost our second balloon. I gave mine up yesterday. It was mostly deflated already and wouldn’t last another day.

It was another great day of conversation walking through Spain on our way to Santiago.

Highlights of the day:

- second breakfast with croissant

- so many sunflowers

- donation based lunch at pilgrim house hosted by superficially nice but strange and somewhat cultish Dutchman

- debrief said lunch while walking further

- happy hour in main square

- welcoming Mike and Pascal from Seattle and Hammish and Tamara from Australia to happy hour and then dinner

It was a great day and a lovely meal. There was also talk about whether our Camino family has grown too close, or closed off, and if we are robbing ourselves of meeting or connecting with others. I don’t know the answer. I’ve enjoyed the time with my new friends. We’ve laughed so much and provided each other so much support and comfort.

This journey is temporary. It was always going to be, as is the time I spend with people on this walk, whether it’s for 10 days or 30.

Would staying connected limit additional connection? Does it limit individual reflection time? Why do we often seek new, or different friends when we already have some in front of us? Do we wonder if we might be missing something?

Regardless, the connections made so far exist. They don’t go away even if we decide to start to walk at different tempos or separately in the coming days. Even after just the week and a half we’ve been through, we share an experience that will carry this friendship forward past the Camino.

What will tomorrow bring? What is the lesson here? Is there one? Time will tell.