sojourners

The Camino de Santiago, The Chemin de St. Jacques, has occupied space in my mind and heart for thirty years and more, as has the courageous women who first told me how she saw this pilgrimage as a journey that might lead her from a place of tragedy, grief, and illness, to a new life. Over the years, while traveling in Europe for business and pleasure, I encountered many others who were on this path, and heard their stories. These encounters added to my interest in the Camino and I came to see it as more than a path, as a journey that could change people’s lives.

Now, my wife, ML, and I are setting out to the travel the Camino. Each of us has significant physical hinderances, and I do not know how much of the Camino we can actually walk. If we are unable to continue on foot we intended to complete the journey to Compostela by other means.

This intention is driven by many reasons, memories being only one. My younger adaptive brother, who was devout, asked me in the hour before his death to take him with me on this journey. I carry him in my heart and feel compelled to do as he asked. Like countless others, I too am going through a life change and need a time out, a retreat. Also, I’m working on a novel, a love story about two people whose lives are changed by this journey, this pilgrimage. I’m a professional writer. I write novels, short stories, screenplays, and articles. All of my fiction is firmly grounded in actual places and events. And so, to complete this novel I must travel the Camino.

I’ve only recently joined this forum, but I’ve been lurking here for some time. From reading your posts I feel that I’ve come to know some of you, and hope to meet you along the way.