dreams and such

[Eyskens]

Yes, I did.  Every morning I felt a tug when they all went out the door,
but then during checkin I realized how important we were to the pilgrims
(a fact Fr Antonio emphasized!) and the stories and characters were
fabulous.  Yes I was at the Wardens conference in Nov '01 and again last
Nov.  I was at Rabanal Sept-early Oct last year and will be there this
year through Oct 1.  If you come through then I will definitely hold you
to the beer, but honestly I always preferred Antonio's even as a
peregrino

Jim Eyskens

-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU] On
Behalf Of Crawley, Jeffrey
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 2:28 PM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: dreams and such


James,

didn't you find it a very different experience being a hospitalero at
Gaucelmo to being a pilgrim? I kept on wish I was walking with them
rather than chivvying the pilgrims out and on their way.

After breakfast we used to turn off the Gregorian Chant and tune the
radio into KISS.FM where they played the same songs at more or less the
same time everyday.  Combined with the rest of the daily ritual it did
lend an air of Groundhog Day to the stay!

When were you there last year (end of June - mid July for me)? I presume
we were at the Wardens meeting together in November! I should have done
it again this year but work got in the way and I'm dubious about 2004 on
the grounds of numbers but then we were full mostly everyday in July
anyway. Maybe 2005?

Should be coming through Rabanal late September early October, will
stand you a beer in Gaspar's if you're there then.

best wishes

Jeffrey

-----Original Message-----
From: James R Eyskens [mailto:jeyskensaAUSTIN.RR.COM]
Sent: 02 July 2003 14:15
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: dreams and such


I walked in May-June 2001 and had and still have r4ecurring dreams of
the Camino, but only in the most positive manner.  To complicate
matters, I returned last year as a Hospitalero at Rabanal, the
Confrternity (St James-
London) Refugio, and had to spend the first night in the main dormitory
as the wardens quarters were still occupied by the outgoing crew.  I
woke and for a brief minute thought I was still on my pilgrimage, a very
pleasant feeling.

I would encourage all of you veteran pilgrims to return to the Camino as
a Hospitalero.  The experience is much different but even more rewarding
than the actual pilgrimage. I'm returning a second time this fall, again
at Rabanal.