A Privileged and Cosseted Life or Is Pain Useful?

A former university classmate once declared about us early boomers..."We are the most privileged, cosseted generation that has ever lived". He spoke these words a couple of decades ago, and I dismissed them because in my view I was taking my life lumps...I was paddling hard.

I was thinking a lot about this today because I am approaching the Lavacolla River just before Santiago. It was here that medieval pilgrims cleansed themselves before they went to the cathedral. The name of the river is derived from "lava...to wash and colla...colon or arse". Literally the " Wash-your-arse River"...I will be there in only 3 more sleeps. Meanwhile I have stood under a hot shower everyday of the camino when I came off the trail and I have to admit that I have never enjoyed showers more. Sometimes I was cold from rain. More often I was sweaty and dusty. Always that hot water pouring over me created a sense of rejoicing in the simple ritual of getting clean. Was the struggle and pain of the trail an essential ingredient of that ramped-up enjoyment? I think so.

I am looking forward to arriving in Santiago but I love the camino. Today I met 2 Californians who walk at approximately the same turtle speed that I do. This is rare and worthy of documentation.

Tonight I am in a tiny village

This the view from the window of the bar where I sit.

Here is the bar where I sit having just had a big bowl of chicken noodle soup from a packet. It tasted like the food of the gods...but then I have walked and walked...I have put my rain poncho on and taken it off oodles of times. I am now going to have a strawberry yogurt and I expect that it also will taste superb.

Gratitude overwhelms me that I have the privileges of time, money and health to take this adventure.