Camino Daze May 2017 – Day 3 – Living in Grace and Flying with Spirit

Day 3 – Rainbows and Tie Dye Brighten My Camino

Today, present time (June 11, 2018), I am engaging in one of my favorite creative activities: Tie-Dying!. It got me to thinking about one of the big inspirations and motivating factors for me before, during, and after my first Camino walk. The inspiration came from a young woman I barely knew before she left her Earth Walk. Kyra was my husband’s grand-niece (his brother’s grand-daughter), who lived with her parents in Castle Rock, CO. About 7 months before I was to begin my Camino walk with my sister, we learned that Kyra had tragically died in a car accident just blocks from the high school she attended as a senior student. I had met Kyra a few times at family reunions, but had not seen her since she was maybe 10 or 12 years old. I knew very little about her young adult life, but I felt a special connection to her when I learned that she absolutely loved tie dye clothes and was considered by her friends and family to be a free spirit “retro-hippy.” We attended her Memorial Service in Castle Rock and the church was packed with a couple hundred family members and friends – almost all were wearing tie dye shirts in honor of Kyra. I had actually been asked to bring as many tie dye shirts and scarves from my inventory as I could spare (I have a tie-dye hobby-business, as I am a bit of a retro-hippy myself), so was able to contribute to the colorful rainbow spectacle at the church that day. Here are a few things I heard and learned about Kyra from those who were close to her (which was a large percentage of her community): “Kyra lived – and she had a blast!” (her dad); “She put everybody before herself.” (a close friend of the family). This same family friend had received many letters and special little gifts in the mail from Kyra when he was serving overseas; a local newspaper quoted him, “This world can be an ugly one if you are always focused on the bad things. Kyra reminded me of the beauty this world has to offer every time she smiled.”

Kyra, and the things I learned about her after she was gone, inspired me to really “Go for Life” and “have a blast”, as her dad had said about her. I had already previously decided that tie dye was going with me on my Camino (I like to bring my rainbows with me wherever I go). Then I met one of Kyra’s uncles, Mitch, who had been walking the Camino Frances when he received the news about her death and had flown back to the States to be with his brother and family. Mitch ended up with one of the tie-dye shirts I made and he told me he planned to return to Spain and finish his Camino walk wearing the “Rainbow Colors” for Kyra. Kyra had connected me more deeply with the extended family I had not previously known, and with another “Pilgrim” who was already walking the same Camino adventure in which I would be immersed 7 months down the road! Both Mitch and I had Kyra with us on our Camino walks. Several times during the memorial event, she was referred to as a “Shooting Star” – so bright and beautiful even for her short life, a beautiful streak across the infinitely deep night sky. I later learned, towards the end of my first Walk, that the Camino Frances is often fondly referred to as “The Milky Way.” This was a profound reminder to me that we all walk in the Divine Company of those have gone before us, as well as those with us in the present, and those who come after us on this Earth Walk through the Stars … we are all of the Rainbow Race walking as One on The Way.

Excerpt from my Camino Journal on Day 3:

Monday, May 8^th– Hontanas à Itero de la Vega (10.4 mi)

We get up at 5:30 a.m. today to get early start – we want to get beds at a small hermitage – San Nicolas de Puentelitero Hospital de Peregrinos – famous for its rustic yet very warm hospitality. More butterflies, red poppies, and vast vibrant green fields of wheat. I am still “working my shit mind,” negative self-talk and complaining, though mixed with moments of peaceful reflection when I focus on my breath, Presence, and enjoyment of my amazing surroundings. We reach the hermitage about two hours before they open, so hang out knowing our beds are secured. The hosts don’t speak any English (except the one woman who speaks a little), nor do they speak any Spanish – only Italian. There are about five other Italian guests staying there this particular night, one of whom graciously served as our interpreter – Bruno spoke pretty fair English (though he was very modest about it)… We had a beautiful ceremony before dinner: one foot was ceremonially bathed with water, towel dried, and then kissed by the main host, also named Bruno, and finally blessed with a prayer for our pilgrim walk.

Other memorable experiences today: A giant green chameleon-like lizard hiding in the garden wall behind the hermitage. Our first Roman style aqueduct bridge at the border of two provinces. Group photo of all the guests and hosts in front of the San Nicolas “hermitage”. A great home cooked meal (on wood burning stove) served by candlelight – every time we emptied our plates, the hosts, assuming we must still be hungry, instantly refilled them! No electricity or heat at the hermitage, so early to bed and grateful for our own warm sleeping bags and the extra blankets provided by our Italian Confraternity hosts.