Hi Everyone,
Well… we completed the journey.
453,647 steps, 200 miles, $15,800 raised for sarcoma research, and a million memories later, we’ve arrived at the final post.
I would like to start by thanking my family. Whether it’s mom helping me with the blog or planning the trip, she was there for each and every step.
To Will and Maggie, thank you for walking with me and sharing everything — the highs and the lows. You didn’t hold me back (which I was half-expecting), but rather pushed me to continue in my worst moments.
To the extended family, thank you for meeting us in Santiago. Seeing you guys at the end of the trek meant so much more than words can describe. I know it wasn’t easy to get there, but being with you made all my pain worth it (and I hope it was the same for you).
And to you, the readers of this blog and supporters of my SFA fundraiser, thank you for sticking with this project. Over the past 6 months, I hope you’ve enjoyed the posts, the story, and the adventure. I genuinely couldn’t have done anything without your unwavering support.
Ok… the walk.
To be honest, the mental aspect was much more difficult than the physical part. Being 17 and in decent shape gave me a solid foundation for this challenge. However, it’s the mental state and your willingness to work that complements the body.
Think of it like a driving a car: your physical condition is the actual car and your mentality is the fuel. A car can be great, but it’s useless without gas.
Oftentimes, I found myself questioning my determination to continue despite not being overly fatigued. But literally every time I truly thought about quitting, dad appeared.
The first time this happened was on Day 3. We had already walked 20 miles and were beyond exhausted. However, we still had over 3 miles to go. So, after lying down in someone’s driveway (a common theme), we stood up and continued to put one foot in front of the other.
I then did what I normally do when I’m in discomfort — I shook the pain away. I flung my arms out and told myself that the pain wasn’t real. Seeing me do this, mom stopped dead in her tracks and told me that’s what dad used to do.
Instantly, I felt a burst of energy knowing that dad and I are interlinked. I’d done this move thousands of times in school, on the field, and around the house, and mom had never really noticed or at least hadn’t said anything until that moment. I think dad nudged her to tell me when I needed this and him the most.
That’s not the only time these kinds of things have happened, though. Dad has been watching us the entire time, rooting for us from above. These special moments have made me feel not just 200 miles closer to dad, but so much more. Not in terms of physical distance, but rather an emotional tie to him — something I’ve been yearning for since he died.
I finally feel like dad doesn’t just come and go, but he’s constantly checking up on me and making sure everything’s alright. And the thing that makes this relationship even more connected is that I can feel his personality.
On Day 7, we stopped at a cafe to get breakfast. I was tired and not in a good mood. I thought that this would be a miserable day and nothing could make it better. As soon as we got up after breakfast, a strong gust of wind (on this very calm day) knocked my water bottle out of my backpack.
Similar to the blizzard prank (if you remember), I just had to laugh. I know dad was listening to my thoughts and making sure I knew to keep going. Knocking my water bottle out into the dusty road would’ve made someone else even more frustrated, but ironically it made my day better. Thank you, dad.
Such moments make me glow with confidence that I’m in a much better place now than when I started. One of my goals early on was to not get upset whenever dad’s name came up. By now I find myself happily sharing stories of him and some of the things he’s done for us on the walk.
I know I’ll look back on this journey if I’m ever panicked or going through a tough time. I’ve truly become a better and more mature man since taking this project on. Mom and the family have often commented about the improvement in my writing and behavior. Everyone says that I’m becoming more like dad every day.
I don’t want to or know how to end this, but all good things must reach their destination. Getting to Santiago was mine — although the journey was so much bigger than arriving at the cathedral.
I hope it gives you a nice feeling to know this won’t be the last you’ll hear from me. I’ll be back at some point. I want to do so much more… so just be on the lookout.
Until then!
-AJ
What a beautiful adventure! Thank you for sharing your heart. We are so proud of you!
Congratulations, AJ, and thank you for letting us be a part of your amazing adventure! You have captured the uncapturable in these posts. Yes, your words do carry power (a rarer gift these days), and with your heart now open to the invisible mysteries that surround us, I know this power is in good hands. Wishing you many more water bottles knocked down by wind in the journeys ahead… Krassi
Thank you for sharing your journey. It has inspired me to find ways to stay close to my sister who passed away 32 years ago when she lost her battle against Leukemia.❤️ Gilda