WordSisters

  • Pilgrimage

    Elizabeth di Grazia's avatar

    Elizabeth di Grazia

    According to Wikipedia, a pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.

    The Camino Frances is a 490-mile pilgrimage route from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. This Camino route is walked by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. The Camino starts in France and on the way to Santiago crosses several regions in Northern Spain. For a prepared and experienced hiker, this route takes about 30 days start to finish. I estimate that it will take Jody and me 42 days to complete.

    Initially, I was concerned that since both of my knees have been replaced, I might not be able to complete the journey. I shushed the concern by buying and reading Camino Easy: A Guide to the Camino de Santiago for Mature Walkers and Walk In A Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons From The Camino.

    I reintroduced myself to the Hennepin County Library system, filled my bag with Camino de Santiago books and a DVD, “The Way.” If you recall, Martin Sheen plays a father headed overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the “El camion de Santiago,” and decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

    On Facebook, I joined Camino de Santiago All Routes and Camigas a Buddy System for Women on the Camino. Through numerous posts per day, I follow others as they hike. I’ve learned how to take care of blisters and whether I should pack a poncho or rain jacket.

    Most people hike 15 miles a day and many carry their pack. I’ve decided that we will hike between 10-13 miles a day, take rest days, and send our packs ahead.

    I continue to emphasize to Jody (even though she doesn’t ask) that we are going to take our time walking. Our focus will be on enjoying the trek, the outdoors, and the people we meet.

    I can barely stop myself from packing my suitcase.

    The only problem is we aren’t leaving until September 2024, and we will need our bags before then.

    Researching our pilgrimage down to the miles walked per day, daily lodging, and rest days is my joy. I’m lost for hours in the planning. It’s like going on the trip twice.

    Crystel is a sophomore at the University of Manoa for the 2022-2023 school year. Our Maui trip in December 2022 to visit is planned, confirmed, and booked. A binder is compiled with information: airline tickets, car rental, lodging, snorkeling, cliff jumping, surf lessons, Cat Sanctuary, Glass Blowing, ATV touring, Whale Watching, Hang Gliding, and of course a Luau.

    Not all our trips go as planned. COVID cancelled our three-week trip to Japan and Crystel’s Spanish Immersion Guatemalan Homestay trip. This summer flooding cancelled our trip to Yellowstone. Cancelled trips are shelved but not tossed into the ‘never will happen’ basket.

    Two weeks ago Crystel expressed interest in reviving the trip to Guatemala for Spanish learning. She asked me to join her.

    Immediately, I started researching Spanish Schools and family homestays. I see possibilities. I could learn Spanish and converse with other pilgrims on the Camino. Jody and Juan could meet up with us towards the end of our month-long stay. Most importantly, I could spend 4 weeks with my daughter.

    Now, that would be some pilgrimage.

    I hope all goes as planned. For the month of July, 2023, I’ve booked a homestay and language school for us in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. I can barely stop myself from packing!

    One response to “Pilgrimage”

    1. Eliza Waters Avatar
      Eliza Waters

      Both your trips sound wonderful! In 1979, I attended an immersive/homestay in Antigua and it was a fruitful experience that yielded a solid grasp on the language. I went for 4 weeks (long days/lot of night homework), but wished I stayed an extra 2 weeks to really cement my learning. Looking online, I see that my school is no longer listed and may have been integrated into another.

  • Squirrels and Party Dresses

    cmkraack's avatar

    cmkraack

    October has a predictable rhythm in our home centered around visits from out-of-town relatives and birthday celebrations with the quiet drumbeat of Halloween building under the other excitement. This year the family has a tiny new trick or treater to help greet neighborhood kids. Somewhere close to this week pumpkins appear on our porch or in the yard, hopefully to last through October 31.

    Oak trees have not unloaded acorns this year which may be why the squirrels are treating our first batch of pumpkins like a grand buffet, digging through the flesh and dragging seeds out every hour of day or night. The fluffy tailed evil ones demolish any fun had in mixing and matching ghost pumpkins with long necked gourds around the classic Jack-o-Lantern designee. Foul combinations of hot sauce and vinegar with a generous dusting of hot pepper flakes appears to extend the squirrel vs people struggle until dew or rain washes away pumpkin protection.

    Squirrel battles added to an already full month. The huge event squeezed into the calendar is October 15 when we head to the regional Emmy awards dinner at the invitation of Pioneer PBS Postcard production team whose episode on 40 Thieves on Saipan has been nominated for an award in the Historical/Cultural/Nostalgia–Long Form Content category. Joseph Tachovsky is having adjustments made to his tuxedo and a new black dress hangs in my closet waiting for a night in the media world. If like other award programs, we’ll people watch while eating, doing anything until we know how the Thieves’ story fares. Pioneer PBS Postcards crew did an amazingly creative job. And they have an enviable record of earning regional Emmys. Fingers crossed.

    Book award programs usually attract people in interesting artsy or nice dress clothes, but television people pull on the sparkles and sophistication when honoring their best programming. Shopping for a party outfit changed the nature of typical autumn shopping for new long-sleeve shirts, a sweater or two, and a new pair of jeans.

    Forgetting the squirrel pumpkin conflicts, October looks like a good month.

     

     

     

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  • Shhhhhh. I’m Quietly Quitting. Are You?

    bevbachel's avatar

    bevbachel

    Walking 10,000 steps a day.

    Dining out.

    Shopping in stores.

    Drinking alcohol.

    Volunteering.

    Going to see plays and movies.

    Attending meetings.

    Visiting my aunt in her care facility.

    These are just some of the things that I’ve quietly quit since the start of COVID. Some because I worried about succumbing to the virus. Others for a variety of reasons. For instance, I stopped walking because of hip pain and stopped drinking alcohol because I was overindulging in my quest to find the perfect tequila.

    Surprisingly, at least to me, I even came close to quitting phone calls, in part because so many people suggested turning those calls into video calls, which was inconvenient to my stay-at-home self who was taking fewer showers and not worrying about styling my overgrown hair. Heck, somedays I wasn’t even getting out of my PJs.

    Many of my friends and colleagues have been quietly quitting as well. Some because of their health or the health of a loved one. Some because driving has become more challenging due to failing eyesight. Others because they’ve retired and now spend more time traveling or with their grandkids.

    However, I didn’t realize we were “quietly quitting” until just a few weeks ago when I came across several articles about China’s young workers, many of whom are making it clear that they—unlike previous generations, including mine and that of my fellow Word Sisters—are not willing to work themselves to the bone.

    Instead, many are “lying flat” by doing the bare minimum to get by. For some that means refusing to work extra hours. For others it means forgoing a job altogether. For still others it means not getting married or having children.

    While most of my quits have felt like a natural evolution from the years in which I often put others’ priorities ahead of my own, I recently realized my pendulum has swung too far and although I am still not venturing out much, I am once again spending time with family and friends, volunteering and even traveling. 

    How about you? Have you been quietly (or even loudly) quitting? If so, what have you quit? And perhaps more importantly, have you found new ways to engage? If so, please share.

    6 responses to “Shhhhhh. I’m Quietly Quitting. Are You?”

    1. Sally Showalter Avatar
      Sally Showalter

      I just read another blog about losing things, but not a sense of humor. Even though you are quietly quitting things (and I get it), you hang on to that sense of humor!

      1. Bev Bachel Avatar
        Bev Bachel

        Sense of humor is so important. so thx for the reminder to hang on to mine…am determined not to become bitter with baggage.

    2. wrytr Avatar
      wrytr

      Bev, the timing of your post is almost eery…I was thinking just today about how many activities I’ve quit doing and commitments I’ve quit making, not just because of the pandemic but starting before that, maybe around the time I turned 55 (I’m 60 now).

      My quit list has included going to every play or gallery opening or music event that my friends are in, reading business books written by men, collecting things (owls, holiday china, beautiful boxes), wearing pretty but painful high heels, looking for a karaoke bar wherever I go, volunteering, and acting like a tourist in my own town, even though I’m always encouraging others to do it.

      But like you, I’ve unstuck my pendulum, allowing it to swing back to center.

      Last night there was a Mexican rock band concert I wish I’d attended even though the weather’s getting cold. I wimped out. Next time I’ll bundle up and go (with friends in tow, as shared experiences warm the soul).

      A theater company recently announced a fundraiser and I decided to donate a karaoke party as a silent auction item, having realized that I’ve donated nothing to anyone (except a few pesos to beggars, and some food and clothing to our housekeeper) for probably three years.

      I’ve also volunteered to help restart a documentary film series that had become a buddy activity for our mutual friend Mary Pat and I, and that stalled due to Covid, when I heard from the founder that she’d lost all her staff and couldn’t do it alone. It feels good to be involved.

      And I’ve committed to monthly talks about the expat lifestyle here in San Miguel to the Roads Scholar tours that come through (and it’s hard to get up early on a Saturday, but they pay me a small stipend, and I get to meet interesting people).

      As for the rest of my quit list—the collecting, the heels, the karaoke, the books by good ol’ boys—I’m content to let those passions of the past float on down the river now. There’s much to be said for a quieter, roomier life!

      1. Bev Bachel Avatar
        Bev Bachel

        Loved your info-packed comment. And the fact that you’ve unstuck your pendulum and are re-engaging. I hope to do that before long…though am also determined to spend enough time at home to get through a long list of to-dos, some of which I’ve ignored for far too long.

    3. Eliza Waters Avatar
      Eliza Waters

      Definitely! I withdrew in 2020 and found that it was a blessed relief and that I actually liked quieter living. I still haven’t rejoined the book group or other social activities and I am okay with it. I did take my first flight in 3.5 years to see my son in CA and was pleased how smoothly it all went. Life in the slow lane suits!

      1. Bev Bachel Avatar
        Bev Bachel

        Glad you haven’t quietly quit commenting as I appreciate that you do. And you’re right, life in the slow lane does suit.

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