Why did you walk the Camino?

[HSkogerson]

Hello all,

I was debating whether to post this here or in, "frequently asked questions", since I'm asking a question so forgive me if I've misplaced this post.

I'm writing a story based on my son's losing, and then having returned to him months later, his favorite stuffed animal along the Camino. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/weetie-is-found.60061/post-800364

It would be a children's book but at the end, I want to include the history of the Camino and also what the Camino means to us and why we walk it, religious or not.

I would love it If anyone would like to briefly share their reasons and thoughts!

Blessings,
Heather

 

[TaijiPilgrim]

I think this is a good plot for a childrens book about the Camino. As a retired children's librarian, I suggest you focus on your main theme and not try to add too much to the story itself. An author's note or appendix mght be the place to talk about history in detail and/or reasons for walking the camino. Your son's story speaks for itself - no need to get too pedantic. Of couse, I am assuming a picture book, and sub-plots and themes might be appropriate for a novel for older children. What do you envision as a children;s book?

 

[Rick Chollett]

I walked the Camino Francis to honor my daughter that passed away at 19 years old. I carried a memento of hers and placed it on the altar in Santiago de Compostela.

 

[Roland49]

I walked the CF to sorten thoughts, calm down a bit and get a distance to the hustle and bustle of my daily life.
But also to commemorate and thank all the loved ones that passed away in the last 10 years (lost my parents (stroke/heartstroke), my older brother (stroke)).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Perhaps include why Weetie wanted to go on the pilgrimage. And what, if anything, did your son want to do. Or what he came to like.

I love your story by the way.

 

[Anamya]

The reason I walked the first time was to show myself I could do it.
Around 30 years ago, when I was a kid, my parent's friend walked the Camino. Everyone said he was crazy. But the little me was mesmerized by the idea of walking for days to reach this magical medieval place.

Then I did it. People I like are still saying it is crazy. But it does not matter anymore.

I love above's suggestion of saying why Wheetie did it. Focus on your son and his bear - everything else is accessory.

 

[HSkogerson]

I think this is a good plot for a childrens book about the Camino. As a retired children's librarian, I suggest you focus on your main theme and not try to add too much to the story itself. An author's note or appendix mght be the place to talk about history in detail and/or reasons for walking the camino. Your son's story speaks for itself - no need to get too pedantic. Of couse, I am assuming a picture book, and sub-plots and themes might be appropriate for a novel for older children. What do you envision as a children;s book?

Thank you so much for your thoughts, TaijiPilgrim! Yes, my thought was to include it at the end as an Author's Note like you mentioned. I think it would be too much to add it to the story for younger kiddos but a nice addition for older kids. I remember my boys always wanting to skip that part when they were younger but me, as the homeschool mom, was always so excited for them to learn more about who or where or additional details to the story.
I do envision it as a children's book, pretty much what you see with photos added in of our trip and Wheetie superimposed into them. My husband sees it could be a longer book for older kiddos. I'm still working on that piece...
Again, I appreciate so much your thoughts!

Warm regards,
Heather

 

[HSkogerson]

I walked the Camino Francis to honor my daughter that passed away at 19 years old. I carried a memento of hers and placed it on the altar in Santiago de Compostela.

Dearest Rick, thank you for sharing your reason for walking the Camino with me. I'm so very sorry and my deepest and heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your daughter. What a beautiful way to honor her.

Warm regards,
Heather

 

[HSkogerson]

I walked the CF to sorten thoughts, calm down a bit and get a distance to the hustle and bustle of my daily life.
But also to commemorate and thank all the loved ones that passed away in the last 10 years (lost my parents (stroke/heartstroke), my older brother (stroke)).

Roland49, I am honored that you have shared your reasons for walking the Camino with me. So much loss, I'm so very sorry. My sincerest, wholehearted sympathies for your losses and what a lovely way to honor them. I hope that you found grace and peace along your journey.

Warm regards,
Heather

 

[HSkogerson]

Perhaps include why Weetie wanted to go on the pilgrimage. And what, if anything, did your son want to do. Or what he came to like.

I love your story by the way.

Wonderful ideas, Rick of Rick and Peg! Thank you for your suggestions and for your kind words.

Warm regards,
Heather

 

[HSkogerson]

The reason I walked the first time was to show myself I could do it.
Around 30 years go, when I was a kid, my parent's friend walked the Camino. Everyone said he was crazy. But the little me was mesmerized by the idea of walking for days to reach this magical medieval place.

Then I did it. People I like are still saying it is crazy. But it does not matter anymore

I love above's suggestion of saying why Wheetie did it. Focus on your son and his bear - everything else is accessory.

Thank you Anamya, what a wonderful visual of a young child hearing the story of walking the Camino and then following through with that and I love that you didn't care what others thought. So powerful!
I appreciate, so much, your thoughts and suggestions!

Warm regards,
Heather

 

[Kiernan]

Here I go!
As a child, a part of the old spanish history in the Middle Age at school, was about the Camino de Santiago (as a way to how culture, art, etc, etc,...arrived here). I grew knowing about that, and sometimes thinking about walk it.
Later on, some times the thought comes back....but....

And then , in the 80's and 90's, when the Camino receipt a "institutional push", I began to think seriously to try to walk it.
But......when you have the time, you don't have the money (no job). And when you have the money....you don't have the time (you have a job). And then you've got a family, and then,...bla bla bla

Finally, the Crisis gave me the oportunity; the enterprise were I use to work on, bankrupted in 2012: everybody out!
OK, the moment to walk arrived. So that was my baptism on the Camino.
The experience was so, so, so overwhelming (walk alone or with company, finding myself, meditateing about...everything, feeling myself so good meanwhile,...) .....that I'm going back....again and again (hopefully I'm planning for next february)


I'm sure you know the rest of the story

 

[simply B]

@HSkogerson -

It is not my intent to derail this thread nor deflate your enthusiasm for a very worthwhile project!

That said, I would offer a caution to everyone reading this who is just about to embark on their first Camino....

Please do not make "Why are you walking the Camino?" the first question that you ask of your new companions. There are a couple of reasons why I make this request....

1) The recipient of your question may honestly not know! By observation (because I will not ask), I think it is about 70-85% who just don't have a clue. Rather....They have a "call", a deep and quiet compulsion to just "Go!" (I resemble this description on Camino #1)

2) The reason for walking is deeply personal as some respondents have relayed above and not easily shared. Those of us in this camp are 'walking off' a severe loss of a personal nature and attempting to re-gather and re-knit the now disparate, unraveled threads of our life. Even worse, there are times when we are not even aware of the effort we are undertaking.

I keenly remember being hit with "The Question" some years back over a group dinner in Viana. I thought for a moment and, while trying hard to evade the intrusion, found myself melting down. (And I am not prone to displaying emotion....ever.)

I was blessed with the presence of a French acquaintance across the table who grabbed my arm and said "B, c'est normal! Okay?"

In short, all those soon to walk the first time? Be careful with "That Question" unless you are very open to a wide range of responses.....

B

 

[HSkogerson]

Here I go!
As a child, a part of the old spanish history in the Middle Age at school, was about the Camino de Santiago (as a way to how culture, art, etc, etc,...arrived here). I grew knowing about that, and sometimes thinking about walk it.
Later on, some times the thought comes back....but....

And then , in the 80's and 90's, when the Camino receipt a "institutional push", I began to think seriously to try to walk it.
But......when you have the time, you don't have the money (no job). And when you have the money....you don't have the time (you have a job). And then you've got a family, and then,...bla bla bla

Finally, the Crisis gave me the oportunity; the enterprise were I use to work on, bankrupted in 2012: everybody out!
OK, the moment to walk arrived. So that was my baptism on the Camino.
The experience was so, so, so overwhelming (walk alone or with company, finding myself, meditateing about...everything, feeling myself so good meanwhile,...) .....that I'm going back....again and again (hopefully I'm planning for next february)


I'm sure you know the rest of the story

Kiernan, I have been offline for sometime. I apologize for the delay in responding to your post!

Thank you for taking the time to write. I love that you never gave up on your quest! And I love that you are going back again, and again, and again...

Safe travels as you continue your journey along the Camino.

Warm Regards,
Heather

 

[HSkogerson]

@HSkogerson -

It is not my intent to derail this thread nor deflate your enthusiasm for a very worthwhile project!

That said, I would offer a caution to everyone reading this who is just about to embark on their first Camino....

Please do not make "Why are you walking the Camino?" the first question that you ask of your new companions. There are a couple of reasons why I make this request....

1) The recipient of your question may honestly not know! By observation (because I will not ask), I think it is about 70-85% who just don't have a clue. Rather....They have a "call", a deep and quiet compulsion to just "Go!" (I resemble this description on Camino #1)

2) The reason for walking is deeply personal as some respondents have relayed above and not easily shared. Those of us in this camp are 'walking off' a severe loss of a personal nature and attempting to re-gather and re-knit the now disparate, unraveled threads of our life. Even worse, there are times when we are not even aware of the effort we are undertaking.

I keenly remember being hit with "The Question" some years back over a group dinner in Viana. I thought for a moment and, while trying hard to evade the intrusion, found myself melting down. (And I am not prone to displaying emotion....ever.)

I was blessed with the presence of a French acquaintance across the table who grabbed my arm and said "B, c'est normal! Okay?"

In short, all those soon to walk the first time? Be careful with "That Question" unless you are very open to a wide range of responses.....

B

B, I appreciate so much your pointing this out in such a gentle, thoughtful way. It is a wonderful reminder that we all speak and we all hear from our own filters, our past and our history. For me, learning to understand that has allowed me so much more grace with myself and with others.

I agree with your lovely words and would hope that no one would ever feel that they needed to explain why they walked or are going to walk the Camino unless they truly wanted to share.
As you say, it is deeply personal for each of us. I think that is one of the many beauties of this journey...that no one's Camino is the same as anyone else's, even if they supposedly went for the same reason(s).

Thank you for your time and for sharing your thoughts!

Warm Regards,
Heather