HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIDE

As previously noted, there is a continuous flow of eyepopping stuff here.  Cellphone pictures don't do it justice, nor do words, so let's just say I'm eye popped all the time.

Took a day off today in Locorno, a good move since it stormed all day; thunder, downpours, etc.  I got my laundry done and viewed the sites.  Rows and rows of bars, huge churches, crowds of tourists.  Eye popping.

Here are four people I met in the last two days.

Steve.  A large, genial Aussie.  Works on ground maintenance for a school district there.  Has one daughter, is separated, and used to do triathlons until he crashed his bike.  Loves beer.

In conversation with others, he opined that a lot of people feel guilty which drives them to imagine a father/god who will absolve them.  He's ok with that, but doesn't buy in himself.  We were at one hostel run by Dutch evangelicals, which featured an evening meditation (as well as other observances).  He went to the meditation and declared it "peaceful" the next day.  In his world, getting on with the blokes, getting healthy, and taking care of his daughter are primary.  And laughing over beers.

Peter

A sixty year old German guy with a lot of hard miles on him.  Declares himself a Celtic by religion and a lifelong user of drugs.  He and Steve and I were having a brew one afternoon, during which Peter had a tete a tete with the bartender.  Ten minutes later, a dealer showed up at our table with a foil wrapped stash.  Cash was exchanged, backs were slapped.  Peter sniffed, rolled, inhaled, and went quiet.

Before that, he was giving his thoughts on Celtic religion, about which I know little.  I gathered from Peter that it's a Pantheistic situation with a thing for goats.  At one point, he expressed distaste for everything Christian,  He did not go to the meditation.

I bumped into both these guys on two subsequent nights.  They made some reservations for me.  I bought them a round.  Won't forget them for awhile.

Scott

47 years old from the UK.  Was a lawyer for 17 years, partly defence, partly prosecutor.  Now drives a garbage truck.  His partner is an English teacher. We had lots to talk about.

He lost his job for reasons that I won't say here (this being public), but he would have given it up anyway.  Corruption, cynicism, no motivating purpose, etc. So now he drives garbage trucks.

Somewhere in there, he became a Christian.  This emerged in conversation with Steve.  He did not make a big deal of it, but he did say that he acquired an aversion for swearing--asks his workmates not to, tries not to, etc.  We had a discussion about the merits of the f bomb.

I really liked this guy  because a) he was shocked at my age and congratulated me, and b) there was a lot of good green shoots growing out of the ashes of his life.  Smart guy, down to earth, forthright.  He went home today.

Lisa

38 year old advertising exec, I met her yesterday within a km of the next town.  I was not feeling good; leaning over my poles.  She stopped.  Asked if I was ok.  Got some energy stuff from her backpack.  Said she would walk into town with me.

So she did.  She had connected with some cafe owners, so we went there.  She insisted I sit down, got me coffee and food and information.  Made me promise to phone the doctor if things got worse.

During the one hour or so we were acquainted, she talked about branding, silo effect, narrative, and other stuff. Very bright button.  

She did not offer her thoughts on the universe, but one of her guiding philosophies was nevertheless very clear:  look after the pilgrim.  Entertain strangers.  Be the good Samaritan.  Which I'm sure all of you folks practice, but she did it with the kind of intention that has roots in core value.  I probably would have made it into town anyway, but the sequence of events that followed was something from a fairy tale.  I'd describe it, but this is a really small keyboard and you might not believe it anyway.  Serendipity on roids.

Before she left, I asked her if I could put her picture on my blog, so hopefully it shows up.  

Onward tomorrow.  I need to improve my self care program so I'm not leaning over my poles after the first ten k.  Take care.  Ask Gail for details if interested.