Day 49 - Bercianos - September 2 - Day 2 of 15

Day 49 - Bercianos - September 2 - Day 2 of 15

What long strange trip it's been. It's only day two and I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster followed by a spin dry cycle. I got back from the bar yesterday after posting my blog and bossy lady tells me that she has Internet on her computer and  I can use it. Then the other one puts on this chef's jacket and a tall white chef's hat because she's cooking dinner tonight. They ask me to take a picture and we are joking around. I check in pilgrims today because ninety per cent of them speak English. The one Spanish pilgrim who comes through understands me fine.  I' in the kitchen helping with dinner and working with the pilgrims who want to help with dinner. Every time an English speaking person asks a question Bossy calls me out so I can talk to them the she actually calls me out to ask what she should do about a woman who doesn't have a credential because it's her first day. She asks if we have any, I say no, and then she asks me what she should do. I almost fall over and I think, "now God, you are just showing off"" but I've been having fun helping people, hugging people, sharing the bears, listening to intimate moments and feeling the joy. The pilgrims really saved my behind today. Isn't that how it works, I always get back more than I give. 

The pilgrims and I got all the stuff cut up for the cook to use for dinner and the tables all set for eating. The German guy got the wine ready, we were having a good old time. But a funny thing happened at the end of dinner. Bossy Lady gets up and makes an announcement that we are going to watch the sunset at 8:45, and them she asks an Italian women to pleats translate it into Italian for the Italian speakers, of which there are four in the group of 39 pilgrims now the Italians generally understand Spanish and vice versa. So the announcement has just been made in Italian and Spanish which covers 5 of the 39 pilgrims. She never asked me to tell them in English, so I just stood up and did it. 

Later in the kitchen I asked her if she had something planned for the moment of reflection or prayer, which the other Hospitaleros had been doing when we came back from watching the sunset, because the nights have been pretty chilly. She said no we aren't doing anything watching the sunset is the moment of reflection. This from the woman who has been wearing a rosary around her neck. Oh well, it's not my pig and it's not my farm. However, I may just announce tomorrow night that I will be having a moment of reflection or prayer if anyone would like to join me. Haven't decided yet. 

I got lots of thanks from lots of pilgrim's but I really feel like I got more from them. My new friend Trish from Minnesota even gave me a ribbon with an inspirational saying on it that she made. I shared the bears with some of my new pilgrim friends and they were excited to have their picture taken with them. One of them was from San Francisco and a Giants fan, so we traded some friendly sports trash talk. Another one of the guys is from Newfoundland, is serving in the military, is on leave to do this religious pilgrimage, is an incredible photographer and is 20. (He is the one on the left in the group picture, the bear are in the middle in the laps of females, of course)

I found out tonight that the woman who stayed the extra night was a conjoined twin that had been surgically separated early in life. Her brother who was the other conjoined twin died recently and she's doing the Camino in his memory. Whoa!  

Last night before she went to sleep Bossy Lady 2 said "buenos noches." So, thought things were looking up, and so they were.  This morning we all got up and 5:40 and fixed the pilgrim's breakfast and things went smoothly. Because we had so many English speaking people yesterday I was hugging and kissing a lot. I noticed too that yesterday Bossy Woman 2 whom we will now call Merusa started interacting with the pilgrim's more, which is particularly helpful because she also speaks French after the pilgrims left they suggested we have some breakfast before we star work. I thought that was a totally civilized idea. 

A little bit yesterday and during breakfast this morning they started asking me how you say certain things in English. And then at breakfast while talking about where I live I mentioned my kids and grand kids and where they live. Then Bossy Lady whom we shall now call Rosa, shared with me that her son lives in Montana. She also mentioned that he went to college but now he drives a pick up truck. Aha, maybe the United States in general and not me in particular, one more time I discover it is not all about me. In fact, since I have worked on my character defects, often it is not about me at all. 

We got done with our cleaning and they decided to count the money in the donativo box and they did double lock the door! I went about putting away the cleaning stuff. When I finished my Cinderella role and sat down, one of them said in a serious tone, Nancy, uh oh I thought, I've done something wrong again. She went on to explain that we had less pilgrim's last night than the night before, but had more money in the box than the night before. They invited my thoughts, and I said I think we (notice the use of the word "we" such a small word such huge impact, why didn't I learn this sooner?) anyway, I said I think we made them feel welcome, cared for, and allowed them to feel at home by allowing them to help, and they expressed there gratitude by way of donations as well as saying thank you and expressing their gratitude verbally for our hospitality. Mind you all this needed to be said in Spanish and they understood what I said, so they are trying a little harder to understand my broken Spanish. They even correct me nicely or suggest a word when I'm stuck. 

So, your loving suggestions to be myself and to be an example were spot on. Things are looking up here in Bercianos!

Because God has an amazing sense of humor, as you will see in my post today, everything is great. It was probably a rough day for all three of us. But keeping my mouth shut, going with the flow, and trusting that I am exactly where I am supposed to be to learn what I am supposed to learn.