Great expectations

On New Year’s Day, 2023, I sat at my dining table laying out my journal for the Camino. The anticipation for the trip itself was exciting, but I also looked forward to the six months of preparing. I found Camino training schedules on Pinterest and I laid out the Camino related books I planned to read. Turning 50 and having a big adventure planned would surely give me some needed motivation to get in better shape physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

I started off strong for the first six weeks. Then, on the evening of February 13, I had my journal out to add to the pages when Eliza texted us that there was an active shooter on campus at MSU. That was a horrible night and the weeks following were painful and difficult. Having motivation for much of anything was a huge challenge for me. Exactly one month later, my mom was hospitalized with a variety of very troubling situations. She stabilized and a plan was in place for her care, but I was worried about being across the ocean from her. Eventually it felt like everything calmed down and I refocused my energy on preparing for the pilgrimage. 

Then quite unexpectedly mom died.