I walked my first Camino last spring, Norte/Primitivo/Finisterre/Muxia. I didn't think I would collect a Compestela, although I definitely get a stamp at each stop along the way. And when I reached Santiago, I did not get one, thinking I didn't need one. Then walking the final week to Finisterre and Muxia I started to reconsider and decided I would get one when I returned to Santiago, but only if I didn't have to wait in a long line. I felt like I should get one, but didn't feel strongly about it. There was no line, zero people waiting, when I arrived at the office, I entered all my information and went to collect my Compestela. When I looked at my total mileage, it was just over 620 miles, or 1,000 kilometers, which somehow felt like something really momentous. I have since had my Compestela and my Passport framed, I am still a bit awestruck that I actually did it, 1,000 K walking solo; it also reminds me of all that I learned about myself and to try to keep those lessons in mind in my day to day life back home.
Because there was no one else waiting, the man asked me a bunch of questions about my walk and what I felt I learned - as I started to recount my big lessons learned, I started to weep and feel completely overwhelmed by what I had accomplished and the lessons learned; he encouraged me to start writing about my experiences (my first attempt was "Songs of My Soul - A Magical Camino Moment" which was later featured in Tales from the Camino. Maybe I will feel differently on future Caminos (currently 2 in planning stages!), but I am so glad I reconsidered and claimed my Compestela!!
On a more tragi-humorous note, I was so overwhelmed in the office that I somehow left my American passport on the counter (I had kept it together with my Pilgrim Passport in the same dry sack) and didn't realize it until later that evening when I was getting ready for the next morning's flight. After 42 days of taking out my passport drybag every day and being so careful to always put them both back right away, I somehow managed to leave it behind at the office; another lesson learned.
The office was closed by the time I found it missing, I wasn't 100% sure it was there, but pretty sure with a large dose of hope and trying not to panic. I went to the police station to see if was turned in, I tried to find someone to let me in to see if it was there, but ultimately realized I had to wait until the next morning because there was nothing else to do. Unfortunately my flight was scheduled for 6:30 am. So that last night in Santiago I had an opportunity to put let-it-all-go, there's-nothing-you-can-do-about-it into practice - not going to lie, it wasn't easy, hahaha! The next morning I was able to retrieve my passport, be grateful that I hadn't lost it, and catch the next flight out.
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