Kindred spirits

[jayree]

When walking a Camino I usually make a few new friends whom I often seem to know better than many of my old friends back home. While reading "A Gentleman in Moscow" (altogether excellent) the author, Amor Towles, makes an observation that especially resonated with the pilgrim me.

“Some might wonder that the two men should consider themselves to be old friends having known each other for four years; but the tenure of friendships has never been governed by the passage of time. These two would have felt like old friends had they met just hours before. To some degree, this was because they were kindred spirits - finding ample evidence for laughter in the midst of effortless conversation. … Though the Count and the American had been born ten years and four thousand miles apart, they had more in common with each other than they had with the majority of their own countrymen." (p 333).

 

[amorfati1]

thank you for sharing this quote - already noted into a li'l quote book.
resonates well - in experience and sentiment! Grazie!

 

[Mike Savage]

So true and a great quote. It pretty nearly describes me and my camino buddy. We met in Santiago after I walked the Francés and he volunteered in the Pilgrim Office. 10 years and 3200 miles apart. Last year we walked the Portuguese coastal route for 3 weeks. This year it will be the Portuguese Central, Sanabres, Ingles, then volunteer in the Pilgrim Office.

 

[Annie Little]

Oh yeah ! This totally resonates with me .... I always meet kindred spirits when I travel .... I might spend a few hours , a few days , a meal BUT I never forget them whether we stay in touch or not .... they are part of the fabric of my life ........ unlike many of the people I see in my daily life at home ( excluding family )

I had an email recently from a young girl with whom I shared a wine infused long dinner with in Switzerland many years ago .... she asked me if I remembered her ... like many others I meet in travels I never forget ...

Ultreia

 

[Priscilla NC]

So true! Another thing I've observed is that, when I meet up with a kindred spirit, maybe even years later, the conversation is such that it seems like no time has passed since the previous meeting. That soul connection is always there.