i thought i knew how this worked.  i thought i would get up in the morning, and walk, just like i have so many times before.  i thought it would be long, but no problem.  i didn´t count on one thing.  rain.  lots of it.  all day long.  hard rain.  cold rain.   rain down my back, up my arms, soaking my hands, andyes, even my feet.  i thought my boots were waterproof, but i found out otherwise today. 

now i don´t want to sound like i am complaining.  because most of the day was really quite beautiful.  gorgeous things happen to flowers in the rain.  rain drops fill the centers of some flowers, and drip off the ends of others.  dozens of tiny, perfectly shaped raindrops hang off of long  blades of grass that bend in graceful arcs under their weight.  the bark of trees turns dark in contrast to the bright green shine of the leaves.  and the sound of the rain on the leaves can be as comforting as the murmer of loved ones´voices coming from a nearby room as you fall asleep. 

but the combination of being very very hungry and not having anywhere to stop without being cold, and possibly wetter was a tough one for me today.  near the end of the day, i finally sat down on a rock next to the camino and just sat there in the rain.  a french woman came by and asked if i was okay.  not really, i replied.  i am really hungry.  i had just eaten the orange that i had forgotten i had and that i was originally saving for the morning.  she offered me an apple, but i didn´t want to take her apple.  (aples are heavy, and you have to really like them, and really want an apple to carry it and i just didn´t want to take such a valuable food from her).  i got up and walked with one of the guys she was with and the time passed a little better.  at one point, we saw a little bird on the camino and one of the guys pointed out that the mom was nearby, watching over it.  i was too tired to say ´just like my mom´but that is what i thought.  and then i thought of all of you, who also are so nearby, watching over me.  it just made me want to cry. 

but i had misunderstood the distances or something, and i hadn´t been able to get enough food, so when i wandered into a little village that i thought was supposed to be the big village of labacolla where i was heading, i just lost it.  i started crying.  i called lydia, and she assured me that i was close to the village.  i just walked and cried, and cried and walked, and finally made it here to labacolla.  i immediately ate a tortilla (omelet) sandwich, and took a long, hot shower in my private room, and dried myself with a real cotton towel,  so i think you know how good that made me feel.  i have now done some filming with lydia, eaten dinner and feel fine, just very, very tired.  ready to go to bed, and so very happy that i - we -  only have 10 k to walk tomorrow.  i should be in santiago by 11 am, and be sitting in the cathedral for the noon mass.  many people along the way have asked me to say a prayer for them in the cathedral.  i will, but they will have to wait until i have said all my prayers for you.  prayers of thanks, prayers of gratitude, and prayers that i can be as loving and supportive of you as you have been of me.  thank you thank you thank you.  i am thinking of you with great love and thanksgiving.  and unlike my pilgrimage, THAT will not be over tomorrow. 

peace and blessings-
a