Gratitude and Grumblings

Well I am turning into a proper '`Pollyanna', who will drive you all mad with my positive outlook on life when I return! For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about go read the book or watch the film- you want to throttle her by the end.
The above said, an attitude of gratitude in all things does really help you along the Camino. When refused a bed yesterday it was so much more helpful to think 'oh well the sun is shining and I get to chat to another group of guys' than the attitude expressed by a 26yr old Israeli male who was walking the Camino with his father; when they were refused a bed also, the father exclaimed 'What shall I do, my son will cry and refuse to walk?'. When asked how old his son was there was surprise and then great laughter which the father took quite well. And no he was not joking. I spoke to the son as he downed a couple of pints of Cerveza. We had a good natured banter in which I told him to get off his bottom and walk. He raised his glass and said the taxi was on its way (it was!). His father asked if I could move in to discipline him and if I did he would write me into his will. Alas the offer wasn't good enough.
Gratitude for small pleasures which here become big pleasures is vital to survival- things like taking off your boots and socks at lunchtime and feeling the air around your toes, taking the pack off your back and again feeling the air kiss your back, peeing in the wind (one of my favourite) as long as you check the direction of the wind first!, a cheery 'buen camino' from a fellow traveller, a cool shower at the end of the walk where a hair wash has become a real luxury, steep bits that are in the shade, endless birdsong if you stop and listen, sudden cool breezes that whisper comfort, spring flowers bursting forth in bloom to the extent that you are sometimes festooned in blown blossoms which you run to catch and join in their dance, empty camino paths because everyone else has stopped walking and you have the place to yourself as you watch the sun set, ice cool fountains that you dunk your head under and fill your empty bottle with, risking navigation by the position of the sun and finding out you are not as stupid as you thought because it works!, a chair to sit on, small acts of kindness from others and a bed to rest your weary bones (even if it may have bed bugs).
The grumbles- well life always has 2 sides- so, sonorous symphonies from fellow travellers where every breth reminds you of what you are not doing, heat rash, red and angry moving up your legs from wearing wooly socks, great socking blisters that remind you every step that you are walking on them!, aching muscles, full refugios when you long to stop, aching shoulders, sore from carrying a pack and finally, arriving at water fountains that don't exist anymore.
I feel so alive even though my body is in revolt, but today I have listened to it and stopped at 1pm- it needs to rest and recover and so I can write to you.
As ever, Katex