Departure day

My alarm is ringing: it's 5.15 am and time to jump under the shower before Frank pics me up at 5.45. I only slept 4 hours or so - am still too impressed and touched by the friendship and love of my guests dung the past 3 days in Antalya Turkey.  So now the birthday celebrations are over. No time for sentimentality now though because I am waiting for my flight to Biaritz ( via Madrid)  here at the Dussdorf airport to start my pilgrimage: the Saint James Pilgrimiges or Camino Francia.

Why am I doing this? Why not spend 5 weeks in a wellness hotel with great food and treatments? I guess at this stage of my life I want to do 'the big check-up': let's find answers to some questions:

Why am I on this earth and what can I do to make this earth a better place in the coming 50 years?
What is my purpose?
Why am I Catholic and how strong is my believe?
Where is God?
Why do so many nations drift extreme right wing politically lately?

I am not sure if I find answers to any or all of my questions, but I will start walking and maybe it will come to me or not.

Frank picked me up at 5.45 am to drive me to the airport. I thought he would fly, too, but he was there just to drive me the 50 km from Gladbeck to Düssldorf - crazy guy.
" let's try and meet more regularly", says the father of 2 beautiful girls to me in the car. Yes, I want to do it and have time now. The past 25 years at ista I was on the road most of the time circling the world so many times and not taking care of my friends as much as I should have.

First conclusion: I will take time for my family, friends and myself - much more than in the past.

Ups, boarding call - talk to you later!!!!