I was Tom, now I guess I'm Joost

[Coleen Clark]

Well there hasn't been a thread about "The Way" specifically for a while, so I'll start one.
It was written to mimic "The Wizard of OZ", Santiago being the Emerald City, and of course we Follow the Yellow ...arrows.
I was Tom (Dorothy) on my first Camino, walking with my little sister's ashes, alone and in grief. She was the one who said I could walk it, I never believed it until I had finished.
Now in August I walk again, and just for a change I will be Joost(Cowardly Lion) walking from meal to delicious meal, trying to lose all these extra pounds. It's my granddaughter's wedding I am going to, and I can't fit into my dress. Perhaps like Joost I will just buy a new outfit and be content with who I am.
So which character are you identifying with most?

 

[JabbaPapa]

So which character are you identifying with most?

Probably the policeman at the start -- so I guess Toto ?

 

[Lmsundaze]

Well, the first time I was Tom, walking with my husband's ashes. The second time -- I don't know but I hope not Daniel. I will be grateful to have made it this far in my life.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Well, I had a different walk in mind so I guess I would be Toto, following Dorothy.

 

[VNwalking]

Well, you learn something every day. I had no idea.
I'd be the Wicked Witch of the West, melting into nothing thanks to the water of the Camino.

 

[Playful Dread]

My wife and I will be background artistes (Extras!)

 

[Deleted member 56069]

I'd be happy to be any one of them as not one of them ever got a blister or any injury of any kind.

 

[Lisa B Cook]

I'm Galinda with a 'Ga".....jk
I will be walking in honor of and hopefully "with" my late son. We were supposed to do it together. Otherwise I have nothing in Common with Tom as I will have to go very slow and with short distances and am pretty social by nature.

 

[nycwalking]

Three years ago February 2014, I left a stint at mom's to move to NYC, again. I arrived in NYC, April 2014, upon SJPP-Fisterra pilgrimage. In NYC: cowardly lion found courage to stay, my brain was hijacked by wickedly witch, I took, it back, and my heart was wounded and healed by illness. Now, I've boomeranged back to mom's, she's no longer able to reside or live alone due to sickness of the aged. I am Dorothy at end of movie. The untold story. Camino VDP, this summer, we shall see....

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

I would be "Jack" because I have "Camino Block" I was planning on going again this year, but now it seem like I will not be able to go until 2018 Oh well, something to look forward to

 

[HenkSlb]

Why don't you walk as yourself? We will never be someone else. Even though the camino last year changed into a requiem for my wife, it was my body and it was my mind executing this requiem. Not someone else.
Bom caminho!

 

[Coleen Clark]

I would be "Jack" because I have "Camino Block" I was planning on going again this year, but now it seem like I will not be able to go until 2018 Oh well, something to look forward to

But you WILL go again, and I wish you a Buen Camino!

 

[Coleen Clark]

I'm Galinda with a 'Ga".....jk
I will be walking in honor of and hopefully "with" my late son. We were supposed to do it together. Otherwise I have nothing in Common with Tom as I will have to go very slow and with short distances and am pretty social by nature.

Yeah, that's what I didn't have in common with him either, his speed and constant forward motion. I was and still am more of a stutter walking snail.
Hey, is that the name of a Grunge Rock Group?

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I'd like to see myself as a mix of Tom's enlightened self, Joost's heart and Jack's wit... However my wife says I'm 100% El Ramón.

 

[alexwalker]

I am me. I like the guy I found on my first Camino. Different from the busy days of the past. Thank you, Camino.

 

[mariam88]

Um ... Kind of hoping I'll stop smoking before I get to Santiago

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Why don't you walk as yourself? We will never be someone else. Even though the camino last year changed into a requiem for my wife, it was my body and it was my mind executing this requiem. Not someone else.
Bom caminho!

The OP wasn't really talking about assuming a different persona, she was referring to a fictional character being a metaphor.

 

[HenkSlb]

The OP wasn't really talking about assuming a different persona, she was referring to a fictional character being a metaphor.

I know. But even then.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I know. But even then.

Yeah, I see your point. I just don't see the point as applicable to the intention and fun that the OP was attempting to engage in.

 

[Hutton24]

Don't think I identify so much with any of the characters Colleen but I am getting very excited and really looking forward to some delicious food, wine and of course walking.

 

[Shston Girlfd]

Well there hasn't been a thread about "The Way" specifically for a while, so I'll start one.
It was written to mimic "The Wizard of OZ", Santiago being the Emerald City, and of course we Follow the Yellow ...arrows.
I was Tom (Dorothy) on my first Camino, walking with my little sister's ashes, alone and in grief. She was the one who said I could walk it, I never believed it until I had finished.
Now in August I walk again, and just for a change I will be Joost(Cowardly Lion) walking from meal to delicious meal, trying to lose all these extra pounds. It's my granddaughter's wedding I am going to, and I can't fit into my dress. Perhaps like Joost I will just buy a new outfit and be content with who I am.
So which character are you identifying with most?

My late husband and I joked about wearing Team Joost shirts on what was to be our Camino. But now that it is just me doing this I have to wait till done to see what role I am. Guiltily I admit to wanting to be Toto.

 

[Mike Trebert]

I saw a video on YouTube of an interview with director Emilio Estevez and his dad, the wonderful Martin Sheen. There's a dedication at the end of the movie to Martin's dad who immigrated to America from Galicia. Emilio's son married a young Galician woman he met during the production. Sheen and his grandson had walked some of the CF a couple of years before the film was made, the movie idea came from that walk, I think.

During the interview, Emilio explained that he had used the Wizard of Oz characters as models. Multiple characters like the three followers are often offered in allegorical stories as facets of one composite character. We aspire to be Dorothy but we are also at times, the scarecrow, the lion, the tin man. And the Wizard himself. The Wizard is our wayward self - fearful, delusional and false.

But you probably knew all this. Forgive me, I'm a movie nerd.

I watched another beautifully spiritual and poetic, allegorical movie recently called 'The Vessel', in which Martin Sheen plays a priest. 'The Vessel' reminded me of 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude'. He also played a priest in 'Trash', set in the slums of a Brazilian city, about a group of boys who work in an enormous garbage dump. Both are exquisite films, IMHO. I'm drawn to films with Sheen in them, he often seems to be attracted to projects with spiritual themes. An essential goodness seems to come out of him.

In more movie news, Terrence Malik, my favourite director ('Tree Of Life'), is in post-production on a movie about the legendary conscientious objector Franz Jagerstatter. Read the 1943 letter to his wife from prison if you can find it. ("Many actually believe quite simply that things have to be the way they are.")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Jägerstätter

Buen Camino, - Mike

P.S. Sheen and Malick are old friends. Sheen was in Malick's first film 'Badlands' in 1973. Malick studied philosophy at Harvard and Oxford.

 

[John R McLean]

I'd like to see myself as a mix of Tom's enlightened self, Joost's heart and Jack's wit... However my wife says I'm 100% El Ramón.

Love this reply!

 

[John R McLean]

I guess I feel more like Daniel but I survived. I want to see the world one step at a time. Pretty excited after doing the Camino France's last year and bringing home all the stories, my wife has surprised me and has decided she would like to do the Camino Portuguese this year! All booked and ready to go.

 

[karry]

I was the island girl from Caribbean. Now, I am a Peregrina in the Caribbean.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Now, I am a Peregrina in the Caribbean.

Or Peregrina in the Caribina.

 

[OLDBIKERIDER]

I guess I feel more like Daniel but I survived. I want to see the world one step at a time. Pretty excited after doing the Camino France's last year and bringing home all the stories, my wife has surprised me and has decided she would like to do the Camino Portuguese this year! All booked and ready to go.

Same for me. While my wife has some walking issues she has agreed to and we are planning for enjoying Porto to Santiago in April 2018 after La Fallas in Valencia in March. Plus we are planning to retire in Spain, so we will be visiting other areas of the country looking for our new hometown.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

P.S. Sheen and Malick are old friends. Sheen was in Malick's first film 'Badlands' in 1973. Malick studied philosophy at Harvard and Oxford.

It was Martin Sheen's debut role too.
Can you imagine a Malick movie with a Camino theme? That would be something.
And incidentally, Sheen credits Malick with being the catalyst in straightening him out when he had sunk into his Charlie Sheen phase after "Apocalypse Now".

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Well there hasn't been a thread about "The Way" specifically for a while, so I'll start one.
It was written to mimic "The Wizard of OZ", Santiago being the Emerald City, and of course we Follow the Yellow ...arrows.

Here is a small excerpt from the webpage http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/martin-sheen-and-emilio-estevez-talk-about-the-way

What inspired the film?
Emilio: Martin was on a hiatus from The West Wing and had about two weeks, so he decided to go check out the Camino by car. He went with my son, Taylor, and a friend, Matt Clark, who plays one of the priests in the movie. Their first stop was in Burgos, where they had dinner. While there, the innkeeper’s daughter walked into the room, and when she and my son met, it was love at first sight. They ended up getting married. That’s the first miracle of the Camino. Afterwards, Martin kept giving me the nudge that we should make a movie about the Camino. He was thinking of a documentary, but I was thinking of something else.

In the movie, Martin’s character needs a tornado in his life. He’s “Dorothy,” and along the Camino, he meets the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. The road is marked in yellow, and our Emerald City is Compostela.

 

[JulieandPeter]

Somewhere over the rainbow . . .

 

[Mike Trebert]

It was Martin Sheen's debut role too.
Can you imagine a Malick movie with a Camino theme? That would be something.
And incidentally, Sheen credits Malick with being the catalyst in straightening him out when he had sunk into his Charlie Sheen phase after "Apocalypse Now".

Sheen had a heart attack early on while filming 'Apocalypse Now'. Harvey Keitel originally had Sheen's role but he walked out because he thought the project was insane.

 

[Duayne Meyer]

Well, even after the wise and admonishing words in this thread about just being the person one is without the encumbrance of identifying with a fictional character, I'm going with Jack. He's crazy(ish). Check. He's a bit daft about a lot of things. Check. He's struggling to find his creative side. Check. He needs to idle down. Check. He wants (is told) to be honest about the story of which he is a part. Check. But mostly it's the being crazy(ish) part I identify with.

 

[notion900]

I was Dorothy, now I am the Scarecrow.

 

[gobjorn]

Thank you friends for such a rich dialogue and thoughtful references. Timely, I am two weeks into my first CF, and just enveloping what comes. I dedicated my walk to Peace, as I am concerned for our world at the moment. I am an American named "Tom", as many people here have reminded me (" You are just like the movie..."), 60 years old, again ibid, and a father carrying questions about children and our understanding of their choices. I am also a vet of the early (2001-2002) Afghan involvement, and find walking the Mesata hauntingly evocative. I get both Malick and Sheen, and am proudly one of the dozen people on earth who passionately love Malick films. Whether the Wizard, or the Heart of Darkness, it is a journey we take, some of by our own choosing, others not. By sight, I guess you would guess me Jost. By discernment, Tom (except I try to be very polite to everyone).

Ultreia

 

[Coleen Clark]

Sheen had a heart attack early on while filming 'Apocalypse Now'. Harvey Keitel originally had Sheen's role but he walked out because he thought the project was insane.

So following this timeline correctly, we should be in store for a Malick movie that combines the Camino with Apocalypse Now.
Apostolate Now?
So, the plot is Dorothy(or Tom), along with her henchmen go in search of truth, wisdom, and the best café con leche they can find. They travel on the River Duero until they get to the Meseta, using Jacobtrans and cell phones for secret messages. Finally, after a month, they realize they only had to click their heels together three times and repeat "There's No Place Like Rome" and their journey ended.
Spielberg, eat your heart out.

 

[jsalt]

However my wife says I'm 100% El Ramón.

My sister and I met Ramon’s ghost in Rabanal.
We had bought food and a bottle of wine, then went to an albergue.
The door creaked as we gently pushed it open.
Nobody around.
It was very dark, with a low ceiling.
Then we heard laughter above us.
And some giggling.
“Hola!” we called out.
Silence.
Then more strange and ghostly creaks and groans.
We looked at each other and whispered “this is Ramon’s place!”.
We legged it out of there and didn’t stop until we got to Foncebadon just as it was getting dark
. . . . and heard the wolves howling
(just kidding . . . about the last bit).

 

[karry]

Or Peregrina in the Caribina.

nice one! thank you!

 

[Annie Little]

I'd like to see myself as a mix of Tom's enlightened self, Joost's heart and Jack's wit... However my wife says I'm 100% El Ramón.

hahahah ..... I am SURE I met El Ramon in Ciruena .... I wouldn't stop there again next next time ....

Ultreia

 

[Hutton24]

I'd like to see myself as a mix of Tom's enlightened self, Joost's heart and Jack's wit... However my wife says I'm 100% El Ramón.

Jack was a major pain in the butt!

 

[Hutton24]

Well, even after the wise and admonishing words in this thread about just being the person one is without the encumbrance of identifying with a fictional character, I'm going with Jack. He's crazy(ish). Check. He's a bit daft about a lot of things. Check. He's struggling to find his creative side. Check. He needs to idle down. Check. He wants (is told) to be honest about the story of which he is a part. Check. But mostly it's the being crazy(ish) part I identify with.

You forgot to mention that Jack was selfish, a bore and arrogant.

 

[Duayne Meyer]

Check. And somewhat surprising in his generosity and humanity.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Jack was a major pain in the butt!

Well, best I have to offer to your insight is to acknowledge that my wife isn't always 100% correct

 

[GreatDane]

I am the hospitalero torero fighting bulls with the table cloths while no one is looking (except Tom). He was practicing his artistry in his spare time.

 

[Lmsundaze]

I wonder if I will encounter that guy with the red bikini underpants hanging up his laundry?

 

[Coleen Clark]

I wonder if I will encounter that guy with the red bikini underpants hanging up his laundry?

I rewind the tape at that scene. Several times. And make wolf calls.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I rewind the tape at that scene. Several times. And make wolf calls.

ROTFLOL!!!!!!

 

[Mike Trebert]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I think that there's a challenge built into 'The Wizard Of Oz'. Who would dare admit to identifying with the wizard? The timid and deceitful wizard. He maintains authority by generating fear. Is there a corresponding character in 'The Way'? I was disappointed in Estevez when he said he modelled his characters on Dorothy and the lion, the tin man, the scarecrow. Simplistic, I thought. A bit cheesy.

There's a lot of darkness and scariness in the original story. A richly developed and populated darkness.

Hovering over "The Way", is death. The fear of not being. Ego. The wizard. Me.

The yellow brick road is the camino which can lead you off to see the wizard. Then pull back that curtain and say hello. The way home is to see the wizard for the flimflam that he is and to leave him behind. Then the adventure begins.

Buen Camino, - Mike

Edit: P.S.,"I may have the gift of prophesy and understand all mysteries, but if I am without love, I am nothing."

 

[Deleted member 36903]

[QUOTE="Mike Trebert, post: 500493, member: 52084
I'm drawn to films with Sheen in them, he often seems to be attracted to projects with spiritual themes. An essential goodness seems to come out of him.
[/QUOTE]

I agree @Mike Trebert I remember seeing him play the lead in Kramer's 'The Normal Heart' at a theatre in London early 80s at the start of the AIDS epidemic when attitudes to sexuality were a lot different from today. It was a magical and moving performance and again showed the humanity of the man.