Down to the Wire

I leave in three days – GULP! Yes, I’m excited. I’ve had a few sleepless nights thinking through the packing list and the various “to do lists,” but I am, for the most part, ready. I’m walking almost everyday now for 10-12kms with a full pack – 10lbs. The other day it rained, so I could try out my poncho for a 5kms walk in wet weather. It worked.

My hotel in Paris sent me an email for basic information – passport etc. They also wanted to know, if I needed to upgrade for a list of about 10 things. I didn’t. It’s a changed world out there. One has to be so careful with the wording, the selections, or a shaky hand. In fact a sudden mis-placed click and you end up paying a lot more. Sigh!

I needed a diversion, so I photographed my hat! This is a typical “camino-style” hat. Its broad brim keeps the sun from your eyes or a light rain off your shoulders. The cord under the chin secures the hat to your head in a strong wind, while the loops hold all those momentos that you wish to share with the world, if it’s listening. Not everyone adds this amount of clutter to their headdress – only a few of us nerds – you were warned in an earlier post.

On a normal day at home I would give a wide berth to anyone wearing this amount of memorabilia. But I am a different person on a Camino. I wear my heart on my sleeve or at least my memories on my hat. Most of these pins were serendipitous finds in forgotten drawers, odd pockets of old clothes and untidy trays of miscellanea. They would never have been be seen unless they were given a moment of glory on my pilgrim hat.

1. Small Canadian flag pin of unknown origin found in a bedroom drawer. I am so happy I was born in Canada.
2. Green Shamrock given to me by my daughter on St. Patrick’s Day. My great grandfather was born in Ireland – also found in a bedroom drawer – the pin, not the grandfather.
3. Camino pin bought on the Camino Portuguese April/24 from a makeshift stall on a mountain trail. The shell is the symbol of the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela. It’s rays pointing us in the direction we must walk.
4. Flocked teddy bear also found in a bedroom drawer. Something tells me I should check my bedroom closets, as well – on second thought – maybe not! My eldest is an artist and has a business where he creates really cute bears to represent various skilled trades – TuffBears.ca. This bear reminds me of my three children – a very important part of my life!
5. Small pewter sheep sent to me by a knitwear designer from Nova Scotia. The pin was also designed and made in Nova Scotia. It was misplaced for a number of years, but it turned up at the bottom of a tray of jewellery odds and ends. I had a business for thirty years that distributed knitting patterns, yarn and accessories to craft stores. Several bins of yarn, a good number of lace samples and this pin is what’s left. I think I need a momento to represent the number of years I taught English as well.
6. Pink ribbon for my Breast Cancer twenty-five years ago. This pin was sent to me by a designer in New Brunswick. Very few people knew of my condition and it was years before I told only a very few people. This pin arrived at a critical time several years after my treatment. It’s very special.
7. Ultreia pin given to me by one of the co-ordinators of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims – Toronto Chapter. David also gave me my Camino shell at my first all day pilgrim meeting. Making contact with this group has given me the incentive to walk my Caminos, at my age. Ultrea means – Keep going. I hope I can!