Tomorrow, I fly to Spain and begin walking the Camino on Tuesday, August 23rd. I will be walking alone, unless other pilgrims care to walk along with me.

But one very special person will be with me.

I remember the day I gave Joanne the wedding ring with a large diamond. She melted with joy.

After her passing, I did not know what to do with the ring. A good friend of mine suggested that I sell it to finance my trip to Spain. But over time the one carat diamond had been chipped and lost value. Again, I did not know what to do.

Then one day I had an epiphany. The scallop shell is the symbol of Camino pilgrimages. I decided to mount the diamond on a scallop shell to be worn as a necklace. In this way, Joanne will be with me on this pilgrimage. Yes, I have a very large romantic side.