Camino Gifts: Camino Shoes

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Paul sent me a message asking, “Hey when’s your Bday and how much will your shoes cost for your trip?”

It struck me as a rather unusual question but I responded with, “My birthday was last Monday and the shoes are $120. Why?”

“Happy Birthday! What’s your mailing address again?” Paul wrote, and sent me a check for one of the two pair of Camino shoes that I will need for this summer’s 800-to-900-mile Camino. I was completely amazed and touched by his unexpected and thoughtful gift and while I am one of those people who has a difficult time accepting gifts, I swallowed my pride and allowed myself the luxury of “receiving” and appreciating that someone would care enough to gift me something so special.

Several days later when I was in the staff room at the elementary school where I work, one of my student’s parents, Sunny, approached me and asked, “Elissa, have you bought your shoes for the Camino yet?”

I shook my head in disbelief and my eyes opened wide as I said, “Wellllll, I have one of two pairs that I need….why do you ask?”

“I’ve been reading your blog,” Sunny replied, “and I really want to buy your shoes for this summer’s Camino.”

I couldn’t believe it. Surely I was dreaming.

But she wasn’t. She had read my blog carefully and ordered exactly the right make, model, size, and color of my “right” pair of shoes. They arrived today.

So now I have both pairs of shoes that I will need to walk all summer through Spain and am feeling blessed and grateful for the seemingly unending gifts of the Camino…