hi
i have been looking every day for a computer and today_ voila, )notice i can speak french now)
kathleen and i have been walking for four days now;
we started on thursday we attended the mass for pilgrims with about 100 others. it shocked and disappointed me. i have been counting on solitude and space to reflect and i thought how will i find that. We started walking in the rain and cold in a line of pilgrims. i keep thinking no no no:
it rained all day, lightly and then really heavily at the end of the day: we were soaked and cold. we walked until 5 at night: -i went to dinner that night in sandals; wool socks; shorts, i was freezing: it rained as we walked to dinner: when we sat down we laughed; I don,t think i have ever been in public in sandals and socks but it felt perfect:
the next day it rained all day; really hard, but we were ready: it was fine: pretty actually: the other pilgrims who i wish weren,t here are really great: there are about 10 we see whose names we know and another 10 whose names we don,t know, the ones we know are primarily french: there are 4 from canada; 1 from holland; AND one of the woman had her birthday on the 15th too. i got two kisses from each of the men traveling with her:
i am having fun speaking french:
i am happy i listened to the pimsler tapes: i can say about 6 important sentances: they like talking with me to practice english: this is a great part of the walk,
yesterday was a long hard walk in the forests and mountains, but it was fun jumping around roots that looked like some huge replica of the nerve system in our bodies: we arrived in our town at 6:
today was the best day: for two reasons: i walked alone for about 4 hours and for part of that i had the solitude i was longing for: i walked on the aubrac plains with wild flowers; cows anf huge rocks: fabulous:
i am happy i am here: i have much to learn and this is the place to do it: yesterday i remembered a yoga instructor telling my class - it is impossible to catch your shadow; but if you turn from it; it will follow you; my shadow is my memory of Arles and my dreams of le puy: i will ttry to let them follow me, not lead,
by the wway, i have walked about 120 kms and am in Nasbinals: no blisters or problems,
thank you for working with me to understand my new key board:
i willl write again when i have a computer: and possibly show photos:
with love
mary