Saying Goodbye To Manon

“Courage is a love affair with the unknown.”

Osho

I said goodbye to Manon today, in between the EU passport area and “All Others.” We delayed as long as possible, hugged, cried a bit, and then walked towards our respective countries. As I sit here waiting to board a flight to Portland, I’m already missing our laughter over my Duo-lingo mastery of the Spanish language (or any language outside of English, for that matter). Manon flits effortlessly between German, Spanish, Italian and French, covers up any mistakes with a laugh and wins everyone’s heart in the process. And then there’s me, who can ask for a pen in several colors (confidently) in Spanish, as well as discuss the need for the university to buy two computers. She’s Swiss, I’m American. She’s married, I’m divorced. She has two children, I have four. She’s got grandchildren, I have “granddogs.” Manon will travel the globe to see Depeche Mode in concert, I’m on the email list for Mark Knopfler’s next visit to PDX. Yet the minute we cinch our packs and walk out the albergue door, we are as familiar as two people who have lived a lifetime across the street from each other.

For all the women reading this who are hesitant to step out alone on the adventure of a Camino, or any adventure for that matter, I want to gently challenge you to trust how beautiful, likable, and fascinating you are. The bravery it takes to walk across a country you may be seeing for the first time, in the company of people you’ve never met, pushing yourself physically the most you’ve ever attempted, is astonishing. And then to find yourself surrounding by other women doing the same thing? It is like finding box after box of beautiful gems under a Christmas tree, each lovely in its own cut and color. There is a magnificent gift waiting for you along the Camino - a friend you’d never find another way.