It’s a question I ask every day, of myself and others, why are you walking the Camino de Santiago? I have yet to find anyone with a decisive answer. We are all here for a variety of reasons: the physical challenge, the possibility of a spritual discovery, to walk in the steps of others centuries ago – those begin to explain why I’m here. Others have told me they are doing it as a companion to someone else, the Colombian gentleman walking it with his sister, also several mothers walking with their young adult children.

On the Camino I see people of all ages. There’s a group of young girls with a chaperone who seems very unobtrusve (in the best way). I am enjoying watching the young people, suffering the same sore muscles, limping up and down the stairsteps at the end of the day, but enthusiastic in conversation and bits of song as I sit here on the patio writing. So far, I believe I’ve seen only a few who look to be older than I, though I heard from someone they had talked to someone 81 years old, though not looking it.

Many will fail at their intention of reaching Santiago de Compostela, either underestimating the time it would take, or falling to various physical ailments. Some are walking the 500 miles in segments, a third this year, a third another, etc, and some will skip over parts, fervent only in the desire to walk the final distance from Sarria to Santiago. Of course many are limited by vacation leave. One young man from Denmark I talked to said once he made the decision to come to Spain to walk the Camino he entered his supervisor’s office with his resignation in hand. Either allow me 6 weeks of leave, or accept my resignation, he said. They gave him the leave.

Circling back to why, I have mentioned in a previous post my regret that Cameron Kopf died before he could wish me well another time in my endeavor. But I also must mention others for whom I am walking. There’s family, my brother and two sisters who are following my every step. Then there are family members battling a variety of physical ailments. I’m thinking of the struggles being fought every day by my nephew Riley. And then there is my brother-in-law Lee. Get better soon! You too, niece Laura. You will prevail.

I would also be remiss to not mention those around me who have fallen, almost always before their times. 102 year old Ruth, who threatened to propose to me at her 99th birthday; Richard Teitz, who set a standard of living life to the fullest for all who knew him; and Tim Bishop and Dean Witten, two fine percussionists who may or may not have known each other.

My neighbors in San Antonio, Hope and George, also asked for prayers. And then there are Steve Hager and his wonderful family. I don’t carry the same religious convictions they carry, but my thoughts are with them all as I make this pilgrimage of a lifetime.