Author Archives: michelleperram

Today I am out of the house and “working” at the library. It’s all fine and well to cocoon at home, but the time has come for me to emerge and return to the world. I can still bring the camino with me. It’s also time for me to stop avoiding this blog community, allContinue reading “POST CAMINO REFLECTION #7”

Today I am out of the house, in my workout clothes (including my Camino trail runners), and am about to begin walking the track. This is a big deal for me. For so long I have sequestered myself in the house venturing out only when absolutely necessary. It’s not as though I have become anContinue reading “Post Camino reflection #6”

Tomorrow will be the one month anniversary of my return to my home. I’m in much the same spot I was one month before I left for the Camino. I rarely leave the house unless there is a really compelling reason like seeing our new granddaughter or going to the grocery because cereal for dinnerContinue reading “POST CAMINO REFLECTION #5”

WHO AM I AGAIN? Today I received an email from a dear college friend. He’s not just a college friend; we were part of a group that traveled to France to study at the Institut de Touraine in Tours, France. I remember this as a very happy time. We were Americans struggling to become French.Continue reading “POST CAMINO REFLECTION #4”

Yesterday I drove to Pittsburgh to visit my daughter. She’s borrowing my backpack and in a couple of weeks she’s going to hike to Patagonia. It was exciting to talk with her about the Camino and her upcoming adventure. Today driving home (4.5 hours) I was bombarded by the sight of so many trees alongContinue reading “DAY 3 POST CAMINO”

I’m getting dressed this morning to go to Sunday school and I went to get one of the two tee-shirts I bought in Santiago as a souvenir of my pilgrimage. I chose these shirts because they aren’t your typical touristy shirts. You know, the kind of shirt that says “I walked 790 km” and hasContinue reading “POST CAMINO 2”

How am I supposed to put something away that never had a home? Seriously I have a stack of clothes (albeit a small stack) that have never lived any place other than my backpack or on my body. There’s no spot in any of my drawers or closet for them. I’m not saying that myContinue reading “Post Camino 1”

On the last day walking in to Santiago I didn’t know what to expect. I was told by other pilgrims that it is an emotional experience to arrival into Santiago after journeying from St. Jean Pied de Port. Even pilgrims who walked just the last 100 km said it was a big deal. All dayContinue reading “DAY 40 THE MELTDOWN”

My Camino friend Viv bought herself a beautiful silver ring to commemorate her Camino journey. It’s lovely and has all the Camino symbols around it: shell, arrow, even an umbrella for those rainy days. It was so beautiful that I decided to get one also. When I looked I picked one out with all theContinue reading “DAY 39 ULTREIA”

Only two more days of walking. Tomorrow I will reach Santiago late in the day. I don’t know how I will feel. It seems that the closer Santiago gets (or rather the closer I get to Santiago) reality crowds out the imaginings and leaves me with…something undefinable. I look around the breakfast room this morning.Continue reading “DAY 38 TWO MORE DAYS”