Soul’s Code

PhyllistheAuthor — In the 22 years we have lived in Williamsburg, we have driven the three miles from our house to the historic area probably on average once a day. When I taught at William and Mary and when our son was in the Colonial Williamsburg fife and drum corps, we traveled the route so often that we joked that our car automatically went that way.

Yesterday as part of our training for our pilgrimage in Spain, we walked to the historic area along the route we had so often driven. My husband spotted prehistoric scallop shells in a deep ravine. Traveling the route by car, we had never seen them.

The sea once covered Williamsburg, and the shells are about five million years old, give or take a few million years. We were especially delighted to collect a few shells since the scallop shell is the symbol of pilgrims who travel the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims today, as they have for 12 centuries, wear a scallop shell.

Every year we enjoy seeing the azaleas that festoon the homes in Williamsburg. This year we didn’t zip by them as we usually do. Rather we were able to experience their lushness as we walked.

PhyllistheAuthor — In order to be able to walk for 250 miles on our pilgrimage beginning May 23, we have been walking various trails in our area. Today we visited the Powhatan Watershed Natural Area about three miles from our house. One of the surprise benefits of our training has been that we have rediscovered our local area. Another benefit is that the additional walking we have been doing has made us feel great. It’s a great prescription for anyone looking to clense their mind or get into better shape. “Praying with your feet,” it’s called.

Our son, Alex, visiting from California, joined his mom and dad on today’s hike. Shown here is a natural arch that resulted from a tree damaged during an ice storm. I remember several ice storms during my time in the area. We certainly lost our share of trees to them. It’s amazing that this one has managed to survive.

Alex photographed this butterfly so we could identify it. I have searched through our Audubon guide to butterflies and I haven’t found it. Does anyone know what it is? It has brown wings that are ringed with a black rim and white spots.

I snapped a picture of a wild iris. Can you spot it? It is near the center of the picture. Seeing the iris growing wild made me think of the silent beauties of the world that grow, and too often go, un-noticed. Sometimes you have to just have faith that somebody will come along one day and appreciate the beauty you’ve been quietly cultivating. On seeing the iris, my husband commented on how as a boy he would go fishing and bring back wild irises

for his mother.

I jogged three miles yesterday and walked eight. I am in training for our trip to Spain where we will walk from Leon to Sanatiago de Compostela. This was the farthest I’ve trekked in one day.

Training at this time of year is special. The trees are in bud, daffodils are blooming, and every day spring seems to leap a little forward.

I have ordered a backpack and hiking boots called Waffle Stompers. What a wonderful name! Our plane tickets are on their way to our house. So our plans are moving forward with each step we take.

Yes, this is me with a yellow arrow stuck to my back. Pilgrims on route to Santiago de Compostela, the most famous of the medieval pilgrimages follow yellow arrows along the pilgram route, called the Camino.

The reason I am wearing one is that my husband and I are planning on a pilgrimage to Spain and the shrine of the apostle St. James. We plan to walk 221 miles from Leon to Santiago with all our gear in backpacks.

This last weekend an organization called American Pilgrims on the Camino met in Williamsburg. I learned a lot about what to expect on this great adventure.

As part of the program, the group went to Jamestown for a five mile walk. Since I knew the area, I ended up showing them the way, wearing a yellow arrow.

If you would like to learn more about this pilgrimage, take a look at either or both of these sites: http://www.ricksteves.com/news/tribune/camino_santiago.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Compostela

Every great cultural hub has some place that expresses its strengths, its spirit perfectly. New York City has the Statue of Liberty. Paris has the Eiffel Tower. And Rome has, well, Rome.

Austin, however, has the Hamilton Pool, a humble swimming hole that has more than a touch of the magnificent, thanks to the collapse of an underground river millenia ago. The result is a  deep grotto with 45-foot high waterfalls around the rim — and one of the most spectacular places in the world to have a beer, grab a tube, and just float. Try that in Paris.

The Airy Doom of the Duomo | Originally uploaded by Stuck in Customs.

Father, forgive me for I have sinned. I once passed up the chance to go to Milan, all expenses paid except airfare, so I could work.

What’s the best thing anybody has ever told you about yourself?

BY ANONYMOUS — I’ll start it off with a letter I got from my girlfriend today:

“Darling, I want to thank you for something: to thank you for being with me. Because if I would have never met you, I would never do a third of what I have done. You are my biggest inspiration and motivation. You are my star and I love you so much.”

Sometimes somebody tells you something like that and it fills you with joy. Those special words can turn your day or your life around. It can be the perfect antidote to the Pain Body Index, a mantra of worth and wellness. Try it out. Just typing it will make you feel better, guaranteed.