Lingering through memories: hanging out in Santa Barbara

     Here in Santa Barbara, sit I, drinking delicious Spanish wine and telling tales that are not unique, to people who also had the same memories, but are more than willing to listen anyway.  That's a great thing.

      In 2001, I walked 500 miles on the camino de Santiago de Compostela.  I'm at a workshop with a bunch of folks who have done the same thing, and almost all of them have done it more than once (including myself). We are pilgrimage junkies - journey addicts.

      I'm feeling more alive than I have felt in a long time - sharing my dream with folks who say, "Yeah, go for it".

      Drinking a little rioja wine and nibbling some awesome fresh-baked bread, I am not only struck by the Eucharistic overtones, but eucharistic-ing that is happening.  Isn't it wonderful, if you have had the luxury, to be in a place where your dreams can grow?

     I am particularly excited that I have been bequeathed a very special holy relic: we made this morning a graph of our camino's: epiphanies, darknesses and highlights.  Rather than throwing it away, it is going to be sent home with me to guard - this graph of holy moments - holy lingerings - along the way.