"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it" (Robin Williams)

Before I got sick in Spain, I had 3 lovely days alone in Santiago, the destination city for most travelers (known as pilgrims) who are walking the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage route in Europe that ends in northern Spain.

One of the beautiful parts about life in Santiago is that it is filled with walkers and hikers from all over the world. Every nation, tribe and tongue. Every ethnicity, race and creed. Beautiful humanity dressed in hiking gear. Many of the pilgrims are finishing their journey, but others are stopping in Santiago, only to continue on (as my travel group did) to the Spanish coast, to a city called Finesterre or "the end of the earth."

Most travelers dressed alike: hiking pants or shorts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, backpacks of every size, wool socks, hiking boots. All the variations on that theme.

One morning while I enjoyed cappucino and toast covered in Iberian ham, I looked up to see a hiker donned in gear I hadn't seen yet. This tall, lanky gentlemen was fully geared up for the hike, layers on top, wool socks, hiking boots, backpack and hiking poles. But all he had on the bottom was ...

his boxer shorts.

Wait? Alice, how can you be sure they were boxer shorts?

Friends, I have been married to a boxer-shorts-wearing-man for almost 40 years. I know a pair when I see them.

This man waltzed into the coffee shop like nothing was weird, ordered a coffee to go, huge grin on his face, chatting up the baristas ... all in just a pair of relatively flimsy, cotton, plaid boxer shorts. He appeared to have zero shame.

I watched him a bit, amazed at his pluck. As I pondered his attire and his attitude, I felt a slow grin creep across my face. I was proud of him! I wanted to be more like him! Do whatever I want, who cares what people think? Truth be told, the guy made my day.

He was certainly, as the late, great Robin Williams said, given a little spark of madness, and he was using his one wild and precious life making damn well sure he didn't lose it!

I watched him head out, coffee in hand, boxer shorts flapping in the breeze, hitting the trail to walk to the end of the earth.

Buen Camino, boxer short man!!

Buen Camino!