Letters To

This morning, I took my last walk before I leave. Tomorrow, I have my last Spanish lesson, and I have a little work to finish. After that, I'll be spending time doing some yoga for stretching, some meditation for mental preparation, and some final packing. But, I think I got most of that done today. I just have to decide which Spanish notes I'm going to pack, along with my dictionary, and my little Spanish reading book, which is a great little compact, comprehensive overview of Spanish. I'll be reading that on the plane. I had moonlight on my walk this morning. The moon is waning from full, but there was still enough light to give me two shadows--one from the moon, and one from the streetlights that are still on at 5:30 in the morning. I kept hearing Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow" in my head. Today, I stopped for a little bit in Bessemer Park (see page 9 of the attached article), and enjoyed the fountain and the statue of the steelworker there. I had not seen that...

Just a quickie walk this morning, maybe 2 miles? I was taking E. to school again today, so wanted to make sure I got back before my daughter arrived with him, Glena still being asleep. Now, it's about 5pm, and I'm supposed to be getting ready for my Spanish lesson at 7pm, and my brain is mush, and I am just wasting time. I spent today with some work (done by 12:30), then unpacking and re-packing my carry on bag. I ditched some more toiletries (or however you spell it), and a couple pairs of socks, but it still heavy. Plus I consolidated some of the ziploc bags. I really don't think I'm bringing anything that I won't use. I need to weigh this thing before I leave, because I do NOT want to be over some kind of weight limit for the airlines. I'm about 99% sure I'm safe going out, as I'll have all the stuff split up into 2 bags, but I don't know about RyanAir. Guess we'll see, right? Anyway, back to Spanish. I found this great little dicti...

I am having a love affair with Ziploc double zipper gallon-sized bags. I have pretty much packed everything I'm going to take with me in these bags, INCLUDING a 35" x 70" bath towel . I have also given up a few for weight considerations. I gave up a second flashlight/fan combo because once I put it in the mesh bag I was putting my "keep handy" things in, the bag just got too heavy. I gave up my 2nd ExOficio vented and pocketed overshirt. One should be enough. I gave up my new white wicking t-shirt because, well, you know, I have no idea how dirty I'm going to get, and it's WHITE for goddess' sake. WHAT was I thinking? Plus, as a large woman, I figure it will be easier for me to by shirts in the mens' departments "over there" than it will be to find pants big enough to fit me. Because, you know, every single woman I've ever seen that was from Europe was thin enough to be slid through a mail slot. Not to mention being about 5" sh...

So, it's about 5:30 p.m., and I had a big transcription file to do today, and I got about 15 minutes into it, and I just HAD to go lie down and take a nap. I don't know what that was all about. I didn't walk this morning, but did about 4 miles yesterday, feeling good, so I'm encouraged. The card I got today is 8 of Fire, Traveling. Appropriate, don't you think? It..."indicates a time of movement and change. It may be a physical movement from one place to another (true enough!), or an inner movement from one way of being to antoher." I'm sure that's totally going to be the case. I'm probably going to stress myself out about this whole trip way more than I should. It all revolves around bodily functions. I don't mind being alone, don't mind the thought of being in a country where I don't speak the language very well, don't mind the physical requirements. But, ah, the bodily functions. SIGH. We are so tied to our bodies and their ...

Happy Friday! Just a bit before 7:30 this morning, I am back from my walk with the dog, had a shower, got a cuppa here with me, and just finished eating a buffalo burger that I cooked on the grill the other night. Last night's dinner was popcicles (it was hot last night!), so I was hungry this morning when I got back from walking. My pack is coming together. My "alternate" pack is also coming together. I'll be having my blessing ceremony here at the house on the 23rd. I found out I can fly back to London directly from Santiago. I've got my passport, and my Pilgrim's passport, which get stamped at each alburque to prove that I've walked the Way once I get to Santiago. I have my boots and my sandals. I have my clothes and my socks. I have a very good Spanish/English dictionary. If I had to get up and go today, I could. That's a good feeling. Yesterday wall all day in Denver. I really enjoyed meeting Andrea and Steve, and being able to share some of our p...

Thursday morning. In a little while, Glena and I go up to Denver to take her to the VA for an appointment with a podiatrist. Additionally, we're also going to stop by and meet the folks I have been doing transcription for for the last several months. We are also taking loads of fresh produce to them! Here is today's card: 4 of Water, Tuning In. I like this card a lot. I like the colors, and the "mood" of it. To me it feels very calm, and calm is what I am going to need a lot of over the next few weeks. Here is the card's message: "To develop the knack of taking a distance from the mind is one of the greatest blessings. It is what meditation is all about, really--not chanting a mantra, or repeating an affirmation, but just watching, as if the mind belongs to somebody else. You are ready to take this distance now, and to watch the show without getting caught up in the drama. Indulge yourself in the simple freedom of Tuning In whenever you can, and the knack of ...