Excerpts from The Camino Letters...
I am not joking about the bad mood - I was in a hideously intense mood, full of rage and regret and emotions I can barely name.
Chapter 15 / Triacastela / Sleep
Chapter 5 / Lorca / Step
I am not joking about the bad mood - I was in a hideously intense mood, full of rage and regret and emotions I can barely name.
I'm not sure what caught my eye exactly, but I saw something in the dirt and so went closer to look. I dug it out and it was the most beautiful snail shell, larger than I would have expected to find on land.
... Today, as I dug my snails, I sat on the path in the dirt and cried a small river from the physical pain of the past five days and the sheer relief of being alone. .... I have never considered the importance of solitude in protecting myself from all of the stickiness. I am so glad that I was alone today with my little snail shells and my dirty fingernails on that stupid, horrible path.
The snails cling to the thick blades of grass by the hundreds and when they die they fall to the ground and are buried. I have a beautiful picture, which I will show you. It is exactly what you are talking about. There is a magical geometry to these shells - I have spent a lot of time pondering them on the path since I am now carrying all of them with me. Snails are also very sensual beings, according to people who have seen them up close.
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