As usual, they are in no particular order. . .

• Every moment spent with Meg on her second European adventure. (With special thanks to her for putting up with her sometimes-too-moody eldest sister. And a big hug for saying, “This time, let’s go to a place you haven’t been.” And thus we spent a wonderful four nights in Brugge. Though on her first trip we visited Venice devoid of tourists and saw the Vatican with hardly a single other soul there. Traveling in January during COVID would have never happened without her. Thanks, kid.)
• Every moment spent talking to a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago–whether in my own town, when volunteering, or when walking the Camino myself.
• Every moment Michael and I stopped to realize: We live in Spain!!
• Seeing the Fallas Mascletá from Mom and Dad’s hotel room.
• Every moment spent with friends, students, and their families on my trip to Asheville.
• Every moment spent with Michael on our weekend trip to Taramundi (which I planned by watching YouTube videos only in Spanish!)
• Every moment Michael and I spent laughing over the fact that we don’t know the date of our anniversary.
• The moment we finally reached our destination at the top of a crazy mountain road–and the moment we realized the meal was worth it.
• Every moment spent with Jen, Fred, and their family–whether in Villaviciosa or Málaga.
• Every moment Michael and I spotted a Camino arrow or shell while walking around our (at-the-time-new) hometown.
• The moments spent with the German pilgrim we met in a bar in town and drove to Gijón.
• Every moment spent drinking fresh-squeezed orange juice.
• Every time the cashier rung up my groceries and I couldn’t believe how little I was spending.
• Every moment spent with my friend Christopher sharing updates on our lives and businesses.
• Every moment spent catching up with friends around the world.
• Every moment someone knew the story I had started telling because they had already read it on my blog.
• Every moment spent being warmed by homemade soup.
• Every moment I sat in the sun on my terrace and thought, “I’m so glad I didn’t believe the people who said it rains in Northern Spain all the time.”
• Every moment I was able to understand someone speaking in Spanish.
• The moments I hit goals in my Spanish language studies.
• Every moment eating meatballs in Brugge. (Who knew Brugge had such good meatballs?!)
• The moment I slid the first bite of chocolate mousse into my mouth and realized it was the real thing (also in Brugge–which was, at one time, part of the French empire).
• Every moment Meg and I ran into our French friend in Bruge. (We met her on our first morning, and shared many meals with her just by happenstance!)
• Every moment spent at Que Cocine Valentina — a rural Italian restaurant a mere 10 minutes from our whom run by an actual Italian.
• Every moment spent celebrating the nuptials of my best friend Dawn and her long-time boyfriend-now-husband Rich.
• Every moment seeing family on both coasts.
• Every moment spent with my adorable, curly-red-haired niece, Violet and my two other growing-up-to-fast nieces Ava and Bella.
• Every moment spent with new friends in our new hometown.
• The moments I stopped on the Camino as I was so struck by the beauty around me and how lucky I was to be here, healthy enough to walk this route.
• Every moment I showed up at a Camino hostel to find there were just three of us staying there–and I already knew and liked the other two:) And I was the only woman, so had a bathroom all to myself!
• Every meal eaten at my favorite Italian restaurant in Santiago de Compostela.
• Every meal eaten at my new favorite restaurant in Grado. Especially the one that arrived with parts of it still moving. . .
• Every moment spent sharing delicious food with new friends on the Camino Invierno.
• Every moment spent pulling passion fruit off the trees near the albergue in Grado and bringing them in to share with the pilgrims staying there.
• Every moment spent with the bronze doors at Gaudi’s cathedral in Barcelona.
• Every moment Jessica and her travel partner made the plans and just invited me along. (If any of you would like to make my travel plans for me, I’d very much welcome that!)
• Every moment I was contacted by some random person who knows someone I know and wanted to talk about moving to Spain or the Camino.
• Every moment spent laughing over exploding apple cider in my kitchen.
• Every moment spent with my friend Chris who finished his Camino in my hometown.
• Every moment spent with the Camino group in Asheville–who, when I first met them, asked, “When are you doing your second Camino?” and I couldn’t imagine that ten years later I’d have ten under my belt.
• The moment all the preparations were over and we were finally sitting down enjoying Thanksgiving dinner.
• The moment I found the perfect winter hat in a thrift shop and the moment Michael bought it for me as a birthday gift.
• The moments I found used winter coats that I bought and love.
• The moments spent reading books in Spanish and realizing I understand what’s going on.
• Any moment I read anything in Spanish and understood it!
• Every moment someone was patient with me while I tried to explain something in Spanish.
• Every moment spent crocheting. (And to Jess and Dawn who gave me reason to.)
• The moment I found out I passed the written part of the Spanish driving test.
• Every moment spent seeing people I haven’t seen in a long time and smiling over our shared memories of Grandma Gallo.

As usual, I’m sure there are many more that I missed. If that was you, I’m sorry. Know that I love each and every one of you and any moment shared with you is a moment I treasure.

Much love to you all,

Rebecca