Prologue 2009

September 28th Emi and I will be leaving for Spain, to walk part of the Camino de Santiago. It is about a 500 mile walk, but we didn’t want to spend a month to walk the entire length, consequently we are taking a tour of the walk. We will only be walking about 100 miles in 10 days. They will shuffle us and our luggage along the trail, so in comparison of walking 700 miles around Shikoku with our belongings on our back, this should be like a walk in the park.

Talking about the 88 temple walk, that seemed so long ago it might have occurred in another life that I lived, so distant the memory. Some weeks ago Emi mentioned that she might want to do it again, and I instantly exploded with, “Are you crazy? You have forgotten all the pain and suffering that we went through. Well I haven’t. No, no, no.” And then I apologized for screaming. Seriously, I loved the walk, but it was hard, maybe too hard.

That doesn’t mean that we won’t walk when there is a reason and walking the Camino de Santiago has real meaning. We will be walking for God. We will walk for God in all his manisfatations. We are not particular. Why should we be? Can there be but only one God? As it is said by muslims, La illah illa allah,” there is no God but God. Call him what you will. I personally call him, “the thought of time, past, present, and future.” I joke of course. I have no name for God, but I will be walking for God.

Then again we are walking for the sights that will make us catch our breaths, the pleasure of the physical effort, and the rewards that come at the end of each day: the Spanish cuisine (especially the wine), a nice bath, and a comfortable bed. Also, this will be a time when Emi and I can be alone to share the joys of each other while in the exotic and wonderful country of Spain.

More to come…