The Pilgrim with the Pearl Necklace

All flights and transfers from leaving Victoria at 8:20am to arriving in Cádiz at 5:30pm, were smooth. The flight touched down in Madrid at 9:50am and by 10:10, I had sent my small parcel of extra clothes on to Salamanca and was heading for the inter terminal bus to take the train into Atocha station and then on the Cádiz. The train took me through all the towns I’ll be walking into over the next five days. Strange to be approaching the path this way. 

Madrid was 8C and sunny so, having two hours to kill, I had a cup of coffee and then took a walk around the train station area and sat in the sun for a bit. Spectacular architecture. Just your run of the mill government building. Agriculture I think. 

I saw a couple wearing a MEC pack so asked what part of Canada they were from. The woman was quite taken aback but laughed when I pointed out her pack and said it was unnecessary these days to sew a flag onto a pack with all the MEC gear traveling the world. 

So, the pearls.......

Whenever I do a camino, even though they are planned months ahead, as the day of departure nears a reason, theme, focus, appears. Twenty years ago it was my 50th bday and doing something that wasn’t being a mom, sister, librarian, etc. Other times I’ve had a close friend or relative that I wanted to spend time thinking about, sending wishes to etc. One winter camino, I just wanted to intentionally think about past feelings, resentments etc and let them all go. This time, I will take my mother with me. Well, at least her pearls. I will wear them every day and hopefully feel some of her happy and adventurous spirit. My return date to Canada is February 20th, which would have been Mom’s 100th birthday!

M