The journey home

“The best journey takes you home" … Robert Louis Stevenson.

Yesterday I began my journey home; on a rainy Saturday morning. A certain disbelief came over me as I walked out of the historic center of Santiago to find the taxi stand; I actually did it, I walked from Lisbon to Santiago, over 350 miles. In the beginning, when I left Lisbon, it seemed like an impossible task; in the end I wonder how the time passed so quickly.

When I reached the park, that a few days before ushered me in to the old town, I ran into Sarah and Nick from the UK! They had diverged out of Pontevedra to take the Spiritual Route and decided to spend a few nights in one of the villages. They were just getting to Santiago. It is funny how the Camino keeps re-introducing you to people you met on the way. After a brief catch up, we bid farewell and I continued to catch a taxi to take me to the airport where I would fly to Madrid for the evening.

Today, on this Mother’s Day, I flew from Madrid to Cincinnati airport via Charlotte. The check-in agent tried to entice me with a lucrative offer to give up my business class seat and fly out tomorrow, but it was time for this pilgrim to get home.

My son. Zachary, picked me up from the airport and had reservations at a local restaurant to celebrate Mother;’s Day. Neighbors had decorated my house, welcoming me home.

It’s good to be home, but I’ll never forget the adventure I had.Read more