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[QUOTE="12-22Pilgrim, post: 1042927, member: 102318"] While I have had my physically challenging days on this Camino, today was emotionally challenging. It started last night - while I enjoyed Molinaseca, I overheard some pilgrims speaking meanly (snarkily) about other pilgrims and the process and it sort of put me into a mood. I understand that everyone walks their own Camino and that while you meet amazing people not everyone is going to be amazing at any moment. And really it was none of my business. But they reminded me of some people I used to work with that were perfectly nice but would indulge in gossip and other stuff just like this. I am sure it is something in me as much as in them. So I started the day down for sure, homesick, missing my wife, out of sorts, and just plain lonely. The walk to Ponferrada was nothing to write home about either - felt like I was spiraling in toward the city but you never really arrive. The little towns were all locked down tightly - except one house offering free water from a faucet, which in my mood was a significant pick me up for whatever reason. I tried focusing on the landscape, on certain animals, on my own feet. There were also only a few pilgrims on the road, which only magnified the feeling of loneliness. I don’t know, it felt like maybe I had been left behind by other pilgrims, was sorta between stops or something (as mentioned yesterday, many pilgrims I knew were moving into Ponferrada rather than Molinaseca). Ponferrada was neat city once I arrived - the castle, the churches. But nothing was open for coffee - not one cafe or bar even though it was later than usual for me. And city folk aren’t like the friendly townsfolk, so it felt kind of cold (or maybe that was just my mood). There is a nice walk out of the city through a park that parallels a river. There my day changed completely! I met a married couple of pilgrims I had seen off and on but never formally “met” from New Jersey. Like me, they were completing a Camino started several years ago that was paused due to work commitments. We talked about the impact of COVID on their business and lives, our families, our inspiration for the Camino, walking alone vs. with your significant other, vacations and trips, and our aspirations for it (including daily “intentions” and prayers we were bringing). That conversation continued through shared coffee and cookies, vineyards, busier than expected roads, and quiet small towns. It was exactly what I needed. The walk increased in beauty, the weather cleared up - sunny but cool enough that we were not sweating (which after last week where you would sweat doing nothing at all seems like a miracle). It made the walk to Cacabellos seem like it took no time at all (we arrived around 1145). They then moved on toward Villafranca but I think I will see them again. But once they separated I ran into the women from Albuquerque I met my second night and have kept in touch with. Then a peregrina from Germany who is completely re-energized by new shoes walked up and gave me a hug. She joined me for lunch (I had a big salmon salad - one look at it and everyone was ordering it!) and we got to know each other better and talk about our Caminos, jobs, families, and lives. She then departed for Villafranca as well. Then I met a woman from the states with literally the same shoes I was wearing and I heard her shoe story (which was funny). It was a short conversation because she had to get lunch but we now have a shared connection to laugh about later. I walked to my Albergue and then saw an Italian peregrina from Castrojeriz who loved cats. She was supposed to have left the Camino a few days ago, but found herself in Astorga, crying on a bench till she missed her flight because she didn’t want to leave. So seeing her was a shock for both of us. She was in Foncebadon the other night and due to the bed race, slept in a tent (which she loved). We caught up a bit and she is also going to Villafranca but leaves a lot later everyday than I do. Part of what I learned from all of this is that worrying about what town someone is staying in or whether you will be “behind” or “ahead” is a silly concept. After all, if I leave earlier I will be stopping in towns before they even arrive and then we can see each other when they pass through. Or maybe they will take a rest day or change plans. Or maybe we are meant to meet more people by not worrying about finding certain people. Whatever it is I have learned to be more open and less concerned with what other choose. The other thing I (re)learned is that the Camino provides. It’s not something where you will feel joy every second of the day but when you really need it and are in the right frame of mind, you may receive its gifts. Buen Camino! [/QUOTE]
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