The Walkie-Talkie Dolls
Once upon a time, there was a family. They lived in a big house on the hill. They were all very happy and the children were spoilt rotten. The sun shone every day and life in the big house on the hill was perfect. Oh no- that’s not the story!!
Let’s try again.
There is nothing that can prepare you for the death of your husband and even less that can prepare you for the death of your father. This is something that happens to other people, preferably people you don’t even know. But despite our lack of preparation, Laura and I, along with the rest of our family, have had to face that devastating reality and somehow try to make sense of such a senseless thing.
Brian was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2011 and died in 2014. He had been a pivotal figure in all our lives, a laconic joke-teller, dedicated bon vivant and talented furniture restorer. His death completely derailed our lives and we have spent the last five years trying to put ourselves back together again. We have not moved on from him, but we have moved forward, bringing him with us. And on the 29th August it will be five long years since his death.
At the time, Laura and I will be airborne. We will be flying to Spain to walk the Camino Del Norte.
Del Norte is one of many Caminos that track across Europe, all snaking towards the great cathedral city of Santiago in northwest Spain. This particular Camino runs along the northern coast of Spain for 865 Km. It was often the route taken by English pilgrims after they crossed the channel. It is not as well-known as the Camino Frances which is further south and a little more developed. We chose this route because it is less likely to be crowded and promises an amazing walk by the shore. As Kiwis, this is a type of landscape we know and love, but this path appears to have some very difficult sections. It remains to be seen if we can meet the challenge.
We are uniquely suited and unsuited for this adventure. Laura has spent large parts of her life ordering meals from UberEats, buying expensive shoes online and drinking rainbow-coloured cocktails in bars on Friday nights. None of these skills are likely to be much use on an 800 km forced march. However, she is a self-reliant, determined, lithe little gazelle with youth on her side. Not to be underestimated.
Meanwhile, I have spent a good part of the last 20 years trudging around the countryside on various random long-distance walks in different parts of the world, including a couple of other Caminos. I love it; the harder the better. But I am old, overweight and not as fit as I used to be.
This is a great adventure for us. It is not a pilgrimage of grief or any attempt to exorcise demons or even to make sense of the last few years. It is more an opportunity to celebrate how lucky we are to be able to do this together in a beautiful lansdcape and to make the most of each and every day.
Lesley
