Helena's profile
- Age: 54
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac: Libra
- At Fuzzy Travel since: June, 2008
About me
The title of this travel blog says it all: New Journeys Now Begin is the title of a book on grief that I read after the death from acute myeloid leukaemia of my dearest friend, closest companion and husband of one month on January 21 2008. In weeks to come, I'll share more of our story but the essence is that this journey is a time of being open to the paschal mystery of Mark's life and death. I guess more about me will undoubtedly emerge in my travels. I'm a teacher in a Catholic secondary college, born in England, moved to Australia at the age of 27, lived at Uluru for a year (Ayers Rock), Coober Pedy for 9 years, Whyalla for 15 years and Adelaide in the past 2 1/2 years. I have two children from my first marriage, Savvas and Maria, both in their early 20s. Mark was a faithful Christian Brother for 37 years, an outdoor educator and my soul mate. Somehow, I am trying to recognise the ways in which his death will transform me in the way that the death of the wife of Blessed Edmund Rice (the founder of the Christian Brothers) transformed him. At the moment, I have to admit, there is darkness.About my trip
When Mark was in hospital undergoing a bone marrow transplant, we came across an article on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela - the ancient pilgrimage to the tomb of James the Great in Spain. There was something about it that grabbed me instantly. The relationship between Mark and myself grew out of time spent walking together and I thought that if the transplant was successful, then we would make the pilgrimage together. The article was pinned to the noticeboard in his room forthe remainder of his stay. Thrust to the back of my mind, where I wouldn't have to look at it, was the recognition that his chances of survival were slender - he had m7, a particularly agressive form of AML. I also made a vow that if he were to die, then I would make the pilgrimage for him. Despite the initial success of the transplant, the leukaemia returned by December and we were told that every day had to be lived as a gift. We married on December 15th in the local woodlands and then, sacramentally, in our Parish Church on December 19th. Mark died on January 21st. The day after his funeral, I opened a paper for the first time in several months and came across another article on the Camino. In the words of Sr Joyce Rupp, I recongised that 'you don't choose the Camino - the Camino chooses you'. So this is my journey: I will fly to London on July 29 to spend a week with my younger brother. He also lost his much loved wife to cancer, two years ago. Our father died last week. More of that later. On August 8, I hope to be in Lourdes and will then travel to Irun and begin the 825 km of the walk known as the Camino del Norte, across the coast of Northern Spain and down to Santiago de Compostela. My uncle is buried in Galicia and I'll visit his grave. Again, more of that later.Visited countries
Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City. (17 countries, 8%)
Map generated by World66.
