One Pilgrim's Progress: Gifts from the Camino

Web site with book excerpts, maps, and photos: www.jopaluzzi.com

Part personal memoir, part travelogue, with myths, legends, historical anecdotes and architectural highlights, this is an account of a journey along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela from the first disastrous day when the trip almost ended to the final glance back at the Cathedral of Santiago from the bus heading for the airport. Ultimately, it is a testimony to the healing power of living in the moment.

This is an account of what the middle of loss looks like: the loss of a beloved parent, a job, a professional identity, and a home. This is neither a detailed history of the beginning of those losses nor their end- the final outcome is still a work in progress. This is about the scary, mushy, black middle, after all the disasters have already come crashing down and you are forced to step into and over the debris every time you force yourself to get out of bed in the morning. Walking part of the way across northern Spain in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims going back to the 9th century inexplicably felt like the perfect way to literally and figuratively move forward.

And it was.

Phillypilgrim said:

Do you know about the Facebook page called, Camino Authors? Check it out!
I like your scary, mushy black description and will read the excerpts from your book.

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Thanks, Phillypilgrim!

cecelia said:

Thanks Jezzi,
Sorry to hear about your mother - that's always hard.
I can't wait to read parts of your website.
Cecelia

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With just two kind postings, I am reminded of what it felt like to be a part of that 'mobile community' along the Camino and to realize how being a member of that community felt like a blessing. Thank you.