13 More Sleeps

Update: 

The nurses tell me mom is in her final days to a week. For the first time I can remember she rested peacefully through the entire night. 

As rough as our relationship has been, it's been sad watching this strong, feisty little spitfire slowly fade... and I find myself mourning the bond we never seemed to manage. My mind has raced with memories, good and bad. In the end I have realized she did work, in her own way, to be a good mother, and I believe she loved me as much as she was able. She just didn't have that nurturing mother gene and to be fair, I wasn't an easy child. 

I do, so very much, appreciate this wonderful, crazy, adventure of a life that wouldn't have been possible if she hadn't given me birth. Mom ushered me into my life on Earth, so it is only fitting I usher her out.

 I believe we choose our parents and the family we are born into according to the lessons we need to learn to spiritually progress. 

Walking the Camino will give me the grace to meditate on the lessons I learned from her, and try to think more about why I chose to come through her, and what things I need to continue to work on to try to make myself a better human being and mother.

Joe flies home to Portland today. I wish him a safe trip and will be happy to see him - it will be good to have someone to support me during these last difficult days. Joe and his siblings cared for their own mom at home when she passed a few years ago.

Only 13 more sleeps until we leave for Barcelona and so much to do!
Gotta spray my pack and bag, get loose ends tied up here, settle in my house sitter (my good Camino friend Patty Moak), and try to sort out all the COVID related stuff I need to do.

We are remaining flexible BUT our plan is to fly to Barcelona then grab a train to Manresa. This is a new place for me. According to Wikipedia, the houses of Manresa are arranged around the basilica of Santa Maria de la Seu.  St. Ignatius of Loyola stopped to pray in the town on his way back from Montserrat in 1522. He also read in solitude in a cave near the town for a year, which contributed to the formulation of his famous Spiritual Exercises. Because of this, the town is a place of pilgrimage for Catholics and their Semana Santa should be spectacular. Joe had a very strong Catholic upbringing and that's how I found out about Manresa. We have been to Montserrat and hope to walk the route from there someday - maybe next year.  But this year, we will spend Holy Week in Manresa, resting and enjoying the Semana Santa activities

The Monday after Easter, April 18, we will train/bus to Zaragoza for day or two of touristing. Then on to Canfranc Station on the upper Aragones Route. We will walk down the Aragones Route beginning April 20 and arrive in Pamplona in time to meet up with our Spring group of pilgrims.

I need this Camino.

See you on the trail!

Annie