Rufi, 98 years old walking life
Rufina Rodríguez Morales has just returned to Puerto Rico after completing the Camino de Santiago for the sixth time. He is 98 years old, with an energy that has conquered pilgrims of all ages and a philosophy of life that is as simple as it is powerful: have faith, walk without haste, smile and be grateful. And the best thing about his story is that Rufi still hasn't talked about goodbyes. He's already thinking about coming back.
There are people who do the Camino de Santiago and there are people who, without trying, end up becoming part of the Camino itself.
Rufina Rodríguez Morales, “Rufi”, is one of them.
At 98 years old, this Puerto Rican has just completed her sixth pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and has returned to her island, becoming a small phenomenon among those who followed her adventure from Galicia and from social networks.
But asking Rufi about his age almost seems to waste time.
She prefers to talk about walking, smiling, sharing and enjoying life.
“I'm always bursting with laughter", he explains. And when they ask him the secret to moving forward at 98 years old, his answer has little of a miracle formula: “You have to have faith, go calmly and thank God a lot.”
From Puerto Rico to Lugo to walk another 100 kilometers
Rufi traveled again from Puerto Rico to Galicia to face around 100 kilometers from Lugo to Santiago de Compostela.
She began walking on September 21 and moved forward accompanied by family, friends and people who emotionally joined her adventure as her videos began to circulate on the networks.
The route from Lugo follows the Primitive Way until later linking with the French Way in Melide, from where pilgrims continue towards Santiago.
During the stages, Rufi attracted attention not only for being 98 years old, but for the pace at which he advanced.
And she took it with humor.
For Rufi, walking was still just walking.
A pilgrim who spreads joy
The story could have become nothing more than the news of a woman of extraordinary age completing the Camino.
But Rufi added something much more important.
His personality.
During the tour he distributed sweets and small gifts to the people he met. The Chupa Chups They became almost a sign of identity of that Puerto Rican pilgrim who appeared walking through Galicia with an energy that is difficult to forget.
He entered some establishments and received applause.
Other pilgrims wanted to take pictures with her.
And each new encounter grew a story that began to travel much faster on the Internet than Rufi could advance along the Camino.
Your secret cannot be bought
Rufi was a nurse and speaks about longevity with the naturalness of someone who does not intend to turn her life into a lesson for anyone.
It defends a controlled diet, without excesses.
He recommends walking because, as he humorously recalls, it is an exercise that also it doesn't cost money.
Speaks.
Share.
Smile.
Celebrate.
And he considers it essential to maintain faith.
That simple combination seems to suit her much better than any complicated speech about how to live long.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Rufi has aroused so much sympathy.
He doesn't try to prove that he is 98 years old.
She just seems to be too busy living to constantly worry about having them.
He began pilgrimages after the 80s
Rufi has not been doing the Camino de Santiago all his life.
When her story as a pilgrim began, she was already over 80 years old.
Since then he has returned again and again.
Six Paths.
Six arrivals.
Six chances to discover that the same destination can feel different every time.
The Camino has also become a way to celebrate life and birthdays.
And there is also a family link with Spain: one of her grandparents was Spanish, although she never met him.
Your next goal has already been decided
This is where Rufi's story becomes even more beautiful.
At 98 years old and with six Caminos completed, he could perfectly say that he has already done enough.
But Rufi doesn't seem interested in closing chapters.
He wants to open another one.
His intention is to return with 99 years and, above all, fulfill the promise he made a long time ago: to walk again towards Santiago when he reaches the 100.
She herself jokes that this last Camino has served to “practice” for this great challenge.
And that phrase probably sums up his entire way of facing life.
At 98 years old he is not only remembering what he did.
He's training for what he still wants to do.
Arrival at the Obradoiro
When she finally arrived in Santiago, Rufi was received with applause, photographs and signs of affection.
He had completed about a hundred kilometers again.
But surely the number was the least important.
Because behind were the mornings getting up to walk.
The meetings.
The jokes.
The sweets distributed.
The conversations.
The tiredness.
And his way of continuing to move forward as if his birthday were simply another stage of the Camino.
When the Camino teaches how to age differently
The Camino de Santiago is full of stories of overcoming, but perhaps we should be careful when using that word with Rufi.
She doesn't seem to walk to outdo anyone.
Not even to surpass herself.
He walks because he enjoys doing it.
Because she likes to be accompanied.
Because he finds happiness in simple things.
And because he is still curious about what may happen in the next stage.
That makes his story much more exciting than a record.
Rufi remembers that getting older does not necessarily mean stopping making plans.
Sometimes it means doing them differently.
Slow down.
With more experience.
With a cane.
With some pause.
And maybe with a Chupa Chups in your pocket to give to the next pilgrim.
See you at 100, Rufi
In two years he will be one hundred.
And if health, circumstances and that God to whom he is so grateful allow him, he wants to be walking towards Santiago again.
Perhaps then many pilgrims will recognize it again.
Maybe the applause will return.
Maybe I'll go back to handing out sweets around Galicia.
But Rufi has already achieved something much more important than becoming a viral pilgrim.
It has reminded thousands of people that there can always be a stage ahead.
He is 98 years old. He has done six Caminos. And he's still making plans.
Now that's walking life.
Good Way, Rufi.
