The View From the Ditch, or How I Gained Euphoria

[Seabird]

The Camino teaches lessons in interesting ways.

Yesterday was sunny, the pathway smooth. Suddenly I am pitching forward, as if pushed. My legs scurry to keep me upright, like a cartoon character whose legs are spinning in mid-air. It's hopeless, and I release my fear of falling and roll into the ditch. Momentarily stunned, I lay there looking at the sky. Like a turtle on its back, I struggle to get myself upright. And begin to laugh. How fortunate that the ditch had no water! How lucky there were no thistles, no brambles. Only soft, sweet, dew-kissed grass to cushion my fall. I was so grateful, so happy. No one in front of me, no one behind me, I move on. Laughing as only a pilgrim can laugh.

The scene of my euphoria:

 

[Albertagirl]

The Camino teaches lessons in interesting ways.

Yesterday was sunny, the pathway smooth. Suddenly I am pitching forward, as if pushed. My legs scurry to keep me upright, like a cartoon character whose legs are spinning in mid-air. It's hopeless, and I release my fear of falling and roll into the ditch. Momentarily stunned, I lay there looking at the sky. Like a turtle on its back, I struggle get myself upright. And begin to laugh. How fortunate that the ditch had no water! How lucky there were no thistles, no brambles. Only soft, sweet, dew-kissed grass to cushion my fall. I was so grateful, so happy. No one in front of me, no one behind me, I move on. Laughing as only a pilgrim can laugh.

The scene of my euphoria:

View attachment 25817

Who/what pushed you?

 

[Seabird]

Who/what pushed you?

My Camino Angel, I'm sure.

 

[Waka]

Sounds like a new kind of camino dance!!!

 

[NualaOC]

Love it, @Seabird! What a happy and carefree Camino moment.

 

[Kanga]

That beautiful soft green is why I love the Camino in spring, even though it can mean rain.

I'm having a euphoric moment right now, at a Madrid airport hotel. I'm not sure how much euphoria is due to my unrestrained pleasure in contemplating the start of another Camino, and how much to 26 hours in the air followed by an extremely large (as only the Spanish do) gin, with a tiny splash of tonic..,

 

[Tincatinker]

with a tiny splash of tonic..,

Ah, the cost of tonic in Spain..... thank the gods they dilute it with plenty of gin.

 

[GreatDane]

...extremely large (as only the Spanish do) gin, with a tiny splash of tonic..,

This is why it is called "gin and tonic" not "tonic and gin". I enjoyed a vat of G&T in Astorga. Yum!

 

[annakappa]

How fortunate that the ditch had no water! How lucky there were no thistles, no brambles.

The scene of my euphoria:

View attachment 25817

HOW FORTUNATE THAT THE DITCH HAD NO WATER,!!!!!!!!!

 

[ktchnofdngr]

I did something similar on my first Camino, but I was trying to change socks in the only shaded part around at the moment when it happened...having a pack on your back changes your center of gravity.

 

[GettingThere]

Wish I could triple like your post, @Seabird !! What a wonderful description of a perfect Camino moment!

 

[MaryLynn]

So...does that mean you are falling in love with the Camino now??
[I am glad you had a soft landing!]

 

[Albertagirl]

I sometimes fall when walking in the mountains, but it never results in a moment of euphoria. Imagine me (68 and out of shape) carrying a 40 kilo pack over a steep mountain trail with roots sticking up from the path. I catch my boot toe on a root, and over I go. If on an uphill slope, I usually get to my feet fairly quickly and go on. If on a downhill, I end up head downhill, flat on my stomach, with the weight of the pack awkwardly pressing me into the ground. Generally, I lie there for a while trying to figure out what to do next. The usual decision is, undo the pack and take it off, then crawl to my feet, pick it up again, and go on. I have also been known to go over backwards into a stream, with the pack under me. I invite anyone who wishes to extend their vocabulary to come upon me surfacing like a whale in such a condition. What I feel is definitely not euphoria.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I think I know this ditch, or one very much like it... It's right here in the neighborhood, between Terradillos and Moratinos, just after the labyrinth.
A truly euphoric spot indeed! Lucky the man who falls down there, he is truly blessed!

 

[november_moon]

I love it. And it shows - its not about what happens, but how you react to what happens!

 

[Stellaluna]

That beautiful soft green is why I love the Camino in spring, even though it can mean rain.

I'm having a euphoric moment right now, at a Madrid airport hotel. I'm not sure how much euphoria is due to my unrestrained pleasure in contemplating the start of another Camino, and how much to 26 hours in the air followed by an extremely large (as only the Spanish do) gin, with a tiny splash of tonic..,

An extremely important question: How do you say gin and tonic in Spanish?

 

[DurhamParish]

Seabird, I'm glad that it was a "laughable" moment.

Buen Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

An extremely important question: How do you say gin and tonic in Spanish?

Gin tonic! Has always worked for me. Uno mas por favor has wonderful effects as well

 

[Stellaluna]

Gin tonic! Has always worked for me. Uno mas por favor has wonderful effects as well

Your posts always make me chortle!

 

[soozansings]

My Camino Angel, I'm sure.

A meteor was probably going to drop on you! Thank goodness for those Angels. Seriously, glad you weren't injured and pleased that you could laugh about it. Buen Camino, Seabird!

 

[Seabird]

I think I know this ditch, or one very much like it... It's right here in the neighborhood, between Terradillos and Moratinos, just after the labyrinth.
A truly euphoric spot indeed! Lucky the man who falls down there, he is truly blessed!

You are exactly right! That's the general area.

And as @annakappa said, I was indeed fortunate there was no water, unlike most of the remainder of the route.

Thanks everyone for laughing with me. Now I must go find that gin tonic.....

 

[susanawee]

A truly delightful word picture. Thankyou so much for sharing this lovely euphoric moment with us all.

 

[soozansings]

Gin tonic! Has always worked for me. Uno mas por favor has wonderful effects as well

Good to know...a panacea for all ailments! Gracias, amigo.

 

[psychoticparrot]

I'm glad there's plenty of soft grass along the road in Spain. I've done two total body splats in the past year -- all by myself! Not wearing a pack or anything else except my clothes and purse. It's very easy to do.

 

[jsalt]

Now I must go find that gin tonic.....

There's one waiting for you in Santiago, outside the PR 25 de Julio hotel