“Contemplating Sand and Sea” DS
Kerkeling, Hape. Trans. Shelley Frisch. I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2006.
(Map of the Camino trail from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port, France along the North of Spain to the coast and Santiago de Compostela where the grave of Saint James, the great missionary of the Iberian people is located.)
499 words
“The Camino poses a single question to each of us: ‘Who are you?’”
“My friend Isabel had only this to say: ‘Have you lost your mind?’ I decided to go on a pilgrimage.”
“I could be lying on my favorite red couch right now, comfortably sipping a hot chocolate and savoring a luscious piece of cheesecake, but instead I’m shivering I some café at the foot of the Pyrenees . . . (Kerkeling, 1)
“Just thinking about the long trek makes me want to take a long nap. And here’s the amazing part! I will hike it! At home I don’t even take the stairs to the second floor, yet starting tomorrow I’ll have to cover between 12 and 18 miles a day to reach my destination in about 15 days.” (2)
“My guidebook . . . [says] for centuries, people have undertaken the journey to Saint James when they have no other way of going on with their lives –– figuratively or literally. Since I have just dealt with sudden hearing loss and surgery to remove my gall bladder –– two ailments that are perfectly suited to a comedian –– it’s high time for me to readjust my own thinking.” (3)
“According to legend, the Santiago trail was used by Celts in pre-Christian times as a path of initiation. Veins of electromagnetic power in the earths and lines of energy (called ley lines) are said to be aligned with the Milky Way along the entire trail, all the way to Santiago de Compostela (which means ‘field of stars’) . . . The Catholic Church kindheartedly forgives the sins of people who complete a pilgrimage to Santiago. But that’s not my primary incentive, I’m drawn to the idea that the pilgrimage will help me find my way to God and thus to myself.” (4)
In my oxygen-deprived French cell last night, I got three hours of sleep . . . If there is a God, at least He has a sense of humor . . .” (11)
“On a beautiful path running along the mountain range, I see twelve enormous birds of prey circling right over me.” (22)
“But I’m also a bit grouchy today, which I attribute to the pains in my knee, and I feel a bit lonesome. Naturally I could call home, but if I do that, I’m likely to end the journey on the spot.” (31)
“I blathered my endless supply of sketches onto a cassette and . . . decided that it would be best to provide background for the sketches. Four weeks later, I received an invitation for two to broadcast in Berlin. “ (33)
“Her bright red freckled skin tells me she hast to be British.” (55)
“The sensation of being on my last legs is fast becoming a form of meditation.” (127)
“It is much easier to walk the Camino with a friend.” (257)
“The church bells are ringing. Sweaty as we are, we run from the office straight into the mass.” (326)
And bonus quote: “ The Creator tosses us into the air and then, to our happy amazement, catches us again just at the right moment. It is like the spirited game parents play with their children.” (332)
I just found out we have our own ‘Camino’ in Canada, the Island Walk in PEI:
. . .
ShellseekerReflections 