The Cycle of Life and Death

The cycle of life and death seems to be moving so fast right now...

Most of our friends know of the loss of 2 dear friends in the last month or so. I have been trying to capture some of our thoughts and feelings, but truly been overwhelmed by cascading events as the loss of one who was expected to pass (an elderly dog with a failing heart, but incredible will to live) was followed closely by the dramatic and horrible reality of unexpected loss (our horse here in Italy, in the prime of life, who reacted to horribly to a routine anestesia to repair a broken nose), and now the ever more difficult, daily struggle, to find balance and happiness for one of our other dogs with an advanced and aggressive cancer.

I find there are so many words and feelings, but it all comes down to an overwhelming sense that life is so very precious, fragile, and determined to be. And amidst these deaths, new life, Remarkable Grace was born (my parent's bold new filly), some new dogs in need are asking to be let into our life (Oliver in my parent's house, too many dogs to count here in Naples), and a friend has asked us to work with a young filly he doesn't have time for.

More to follow, but to everyone, remember to tell those you care about that you do, never forget the power of love and compassion to make someone else's day a bit brighter, as well as your own in the process.

With love, laughter and light,
Jen

La Nostra Cavalla e' rotta...Lei ha bisogno di po' Riparazione.

Dreaming and Dizzy Followers:

Yes, it is true. The title of our blog for this week is, "Our Horse is Broken...She needs some Repairs."

As of Friday afternoon (Italian Time), the world as we know it came to a screeching halt. Why you ask? Well, because the horse--that is, our Favorite Grace--decided to head-butt a tree in her paddock so hard that she broke her nose, punctured her right nasal cavity, and left a fractured bone protruding into the nasal cavity for which only surgery can repair. It's true, I say. Not a single word is lie, fabrication, or tall-tale.

Now, after a whopping 900 EURO in medical bills later, we hope that she will be well. Her surgery is scheduled for Giovedi martina (Thursday morning) where the Vet and Surgeon will cut into her face, push the bone back into its proper place, stitch her up, and call it good. With good fortune on our side, some drugs that would be guaranteed to knock you on your ass for a month, and some surgical bailing twine (horse stitches) we'll have our horse back in training shape within the week. Let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

As for our weekend of climbing at Gran Sasso, well, it was rescheduled until later in July. However, the reports from the work friends that went to Gran Sasso are all good--for people and doggies (Harley and Bella), which is always a good thing. Hopefully in one month, we'll be on our way to the Sasso for a weekend of alpine mountaineering.

Also of note, the Trash Crisis has resumed here in Napoli. Yeah! (Just kidding! It's horrific in every way.) Jenny and I took some recent photos of, say, 50 new trash piles that are developing around the town. Some burned, some simply piled 15 feet high, others containing rotting animal carcasses on the street corner (dead cats, dogs, cows, chickens). Nothing to be worried about, of course, that is if you don't mind the stench of decay filling your car as you drive by, or if you don't mind the burning chemical fumes in the air when the piles are lighted on fire each night. Nothing to worry about, nothing to make a voiced concern about--right? Or maybe, someone SHOULD be saying something about the desperate state of sanitary affairs that exists for the citizens of Napoli, Caserta, and Central Campania?

Until next post, Ciao i signori e' i signorini!
Nate

Che cosa la tua storia?

Family, Friends, Goblins and Gremlins:

Jen and I are back from our US trip and are finally settling into a routine at home.

Holly's graduation was swell, Scottie and Meghan's wedding was excellent, and Jan and Kent's Baby horse is beautiful! Life is good all around.

The news for us is, well, about the same as it was a few weeks ago. Jen and I have enjoyed the last few weeks training Grace on the back hills of Pianura. While Jenny rides, I've been running alongside with Bella and Harley. It's a fabulous workout for all of us, and has been doing wonders for muscle tone. Grace's form is developing quite finely and my endurance is getting longer and my recovery time is getting shorter. Jenny's refined riding is improving on a daily basis (she looks so graceful in her partnership with Grace), which is marvelous to watch.

This past weekend we went climbing in Lazio with some friends from work and this weekend we're going north to Lazio again to camp and climb at Ienne. Should be great fun!

In one week, we're heading to a Mountain in Abbruzzo Region called 'Gran Sasso' with Dawn and Dustin (work friends) where we'll celebrate Dawn's 30th Birthday and do some long multi-pitch routes. Then...

Then in two weeks, we're heading to the Ocean for a weekend of SCUBA Diving in the Med. I've not been SCUBAin' before, but Jenny has and she says it's wonderful. I', psyched to learn and get my certificate. Hopefully once I'm certified, we can start planning a trip to Sharm El Sheik, the premier SCUBA site in Red Sea. Everyone raves about it, so we've really looking forward to it.

In three weeks, we're going to France (Ceuse) for some hard limestone cragging. Yeah!!! We can't wait.

Lastly on our immediate social calendar is Jenny's Birthday. We've purchased tickets to Paris, and we'll be spending Jenny's B-Day in Paris, visiting the Louve, Versailles, and the famous Museum of the Horse in Chantilly. We VERY excited about seeing Paris and Central France. Great cheese, wine, and style--All our favorites.

Well, that's it for now. More entries to follow when we get back from our trips.

Best to All!
Nate

Some Photos of Life in Italy

The sunrise off the Amalfi coast.....







Spectacular limestone walls for climbing.....










The cliffs and hermitage in Lumignano








Amazing ancient towns crouched on hilltops..

Email post of photos

What's a Naples trash pile like? Well, here's a photo of one of the
hundreds that surround the area. Not burning yet, but it's really
only a matter of time. To give you an idea of the dimensions, the
average height of this pile was about 12 feet tall and it's length is
as far as the eye can see down the street- maybe a football field in
length. To really appreciate it though, we need to be able to share
the smell- the rotting, festering stench of garbage wafting through
the air, mingling with fingers of harsh chemical scents that remind us
of the noxious air of industrial solvents. When you are subjected to
the assault of the smell, you understand why the people burn these in
desperation to try to get rid of the rotting, fetid, mess.
Unfortunately the aftermath is no better....

Next post will be a more cheerful picture of what makes this place
beautiful, the contrasts here between the good and bad are
outrageously stark.

Il sentido di “flow” e la vita

Il sentido di “flow” e la vita
The feeling of flow and life

So many months ago, the name of this blog ‘Naples Burning’, seemed simply a dramatic caption, easy to remember, inspired by what seemed so outrageous as to be in impossible. If only that were true; now, it seems rather apt, for the burning is what gives living here its character. And on a metaphorical level, the igniting of burning passions and commitment to nurture those passions seems apt as well. But these are thoughts to explore later. The subject on my mind is ‘flow’ and life.
Over the last several years, I have found myself drawn increasingly to understand the nature of healing, but outside the boundaries of traditional medicine. Through experience, I have come believe that the narrow focus on eliminating symptoms and classifying diseases is an incomplete look at the nature and dynamic of healing. As a result I have explored acupuncture, classical herbalism, nutrition, electromagnetic healing, chiropractic work, massage, reiki, homeopathy, and things like healing through touch, prayer, color, music, the whole range of perception. And in trying to understand how these approaches support healing, I found myself drawn to study the concepts of quantum physics and philosophy. When talking about these experiences, most often when I say that to understand how homeopathy or essential oils or acupuncture work, you need to have a basic understanding of modern concepts of quantum physics, I get some strange looks to say the least.
But what I find, in books, articles, in talking to people who use these methods, is that there is truth to this. And I find myself flowing increasingly towards immersing myself in the study of these concepts. When you follow the flow of your life, when you allow your passions to guide you, the tools you need to continue appear. For as long as I could remember, I wanted to be a vet, and yet somehow in the past when the option was there to pursue that dream I didn’t. For reasons I couldn’t articulate it felt wrong. So instead I found myself a naval officer for a time, a government employee serving the Navy for a time, and now a chrysalis approaching metamorphosis. In the same way that to pursue being a vet didn’t fit in the flow needed for my life in the past, continuing on this path of government service doesn’t fit in the flow of my life now. So for many reasons, I will be leaving for a new path. This time, not alone, but in partnership with my husband.
Like the tendrils of a river, I find my thoughts branching into many streams right now, so again, I jump back to the focus. Flow. This is not a new concept. In many books on business or sports excellence- flow is the state of focus and action, a unified balance that allows one to reach new levels. But it is older than that. It is both what defines the movement of an individual life and of inter-related life. It is perhaps a way of understanding seemingly unrelated events that at some critical juncture, through a catalyst, suddenly appear not as random, but as essential to some element of that event. I am writing in vague terms here, because the details are painful at times. Our recent catalyst is the re-emergence of an aggressive cancer in our dog, my companion for over a decade, who in so many ways has been my guide on this journey- the reason I went beyond allopathic medicine to try to understand the nature of healing.
So many thoughts, but I will say for now that rather than try to explain everything, for now let me share some pivotal sources that have helped us reach a new level of understanding of this idea of flow. The discovery of NCNM and their School of Classical Chinese Medicine, in general, but in particular several of the essays by Heiner Fruehauf. Most recently and most perfectly, one titled “Cultivating the Flow” which centers on the historical roots and future path of this idea of flow in life and health. He writes on the parallels between the ancient concepts of Greece, India, and China and modern research disciplines. As he says, “From the overlapping cross points emerges a highly dynamic concept of well-being, which hinges upon the creation, maintenance, and evolution of a continuous “flow”’.
All flow is important and powerful, not just the internal flow of the individual, but the interconnected flow of a community. We’ve been reading some of the books of Thich Nhat Hahn, “Anger” and “No Death, No Fear” which expand upon these concepts. And then there is the book “Message in the Water” which shows some stunning results of research into the power of intention of words. And in another topic area, my mom recently sent us a copy of “Merle’s Door”, the timing of which was so very perfect as to be uncanny. And then the chance reading of Dr. Andrew Weil’s, “Spontaneous Healing” and it’s close study of the notion of medical hexing. I recommend making time to read all these books and essays if you can.
So why does the emergence of all these teachings make me believe in flow? Because the reading of them all came after what appeared to be a successful amputation of a cancerous ear, and before the re-emergence of that same cancer in such a way that all the vet can say is “I’m so sorry, there’s nothing more to be done”. In many ways, the ideas in these books have helped us to deal with this, to accept it with the grace that one learns from any aging dog, and to hope without desperation for whatever is best for Harley.
I could write a book on how his presence in our life has lead to a deeper respect for this flow. But quite simply, I can say only that when we look at him right now it is impossible to believe the predictions of near-death and impending doom from the vet. While he is missing an ear, his coat is vibrant, shining, his muscles toned, his energy high- at 10 now he will run his year-old companion into the ground several times in the same day. He eats well, he smiles at us- except for the occasional dirty look over our impending trip without him, he is healthy by all measures that seem important.
A close inspection will yield awareness of a growth on what remains of his ear, a sensitive touch will reveal the pebbles of this growth spreading throughout him, on his neck, sides, and chin. But I cannot in good faith call him diseased, for at this point he is at ease. His vital force is strong. The only time he looked sick was the day we chose to take him to the vet to test the lumps. It was such a radical effect; it made me believe that medical hexing is as powerful on animals as it is on people. Harley now avoids people who see only his disease, and chooses to spend time with people who see the strength of life in him as we have observed in his interactions with the people who come to share our bouldering wall. I think anyone seeking good health should perhaps consider his example.
In re-reading this, I haven’t done justice to really capturing this idea of flow well, or how it relates to recent and past events. But I’m not sure I can without extensively quoting many of these books and articles, and then I’m halfway to a book myself. So I think for now, I will leave this as an introduction to a topic the we will come back and explore as we find it relating to the events in our lives. Perhaps this short quote will help- from “Cultivating the Flow”-
…Ancient Chinese thinking assumed that there really are no solid things with clearly define boundaries, the concept of singular causalities never occurred to them…

Laughter, Love & Light,

Jen

La Arrampicata Sportiva ed Cavalcare al Grace

Famiglia ed Amici,

It's been a few weeks since we've written, and as life usually is for us, time has passed with lightning quickness. Here's a little update of what we've been doing:

Three weekends ago, sometime in Mid-April: Jenny and I seriously started our rock climbing training. We have been training hard for climbing in Europe for the last few months, and we've been making progress despite the ferocious pollution and horrendous work schedules that oft try to thwart our efforts. We work among fustian men and women who endeavor at nearly every confluence of schedules to prevent Jenny and me from watering the seeds of our passions: Climbing and Riding. They, the Orwellian puppet-master chimeras, see our passions as disparate realities from the working reality, and therefore, make no effort at promoting a happy working environment, and often make draconian and Machiavellian decisions against, for the two of us. Thus, we are forced to take on the mindful approach of business zen: manage the elephant, then throw it. Rules are only rules to those who desire to obey. Despite our frequent lambasting, we remain winsome at our core and keep focused on our goals: to live by passion and love, produce quality products for our leadership when asked, and matriculate into NCNM soonest.

As far as climbing goes, we've been training hard at our climbing gym in Monte di Procida--the one we built. We have over 500 square feet of climbing terrain, some 300 holds, and 10 different angles that vary from 50 degrees overhanging to 10 degrees overhanging. We've built three campus boards, mounted two finger boards (Pusher and Metolius) and applied a slew of Nicros, So Ill, and Metolius training aids to increase power, endurance, and technique.

Additionally, we've put some serious effort into marketing our gym around Napoli. In fact, just this last weekend we had five people over on Saturday and Sunday (our first clients). They had a wonderful time, and they have already made reservations for other bouldering sessions. Just today, I was stopped by three other people at work who asked if they could climb again later this week. It's wonderful how fast the climbing gospel is getting out; how bright the sun is shining; how wicked strong we're becoming. Life is fantastic!

As far as our real rock efforts go, we've been crankin' in Gaeta, one of our home crags just an hour north of our house. Gaeta hosts about 700 routes along the coast line, all featuring excellent limestone pitches. The training gem of Gaeta is the Cave Arenautica (Grotto della Arenautica) which hosts around 40 routes whose grades range from 8c (5.14c) to 5a (5.9-ish). Jenny recently sent one of her first--and hardest--leads on overhanging, pocket limestone: A line called 'Fatto Vero 6c+ (5.11b/c)'. It was steep, burly, and beautiful effort to behold as I watched her climb. I was truly inspired. I can't wait to see her on future sends and projects.

I've been taking runs on some other routes in the cave, trying to regain the power and endurance I had established at the Red River Gorge before I joined the Navy. It's been a long road, but the last few months have offered inspiring moments that slowly bring me closer to the fitness shape that I'm looking to be in. I've had no recent sends of noteworthy talk, but I have been working diligently on a few routes in the cave. One of my particular favorites is called, 'Do It', an 8c (5.14c) which has an excellent 5.12d start leading to a V9 roof boulder problem, and then some 'casual' 5.13c (as quoted by a Czech guy we were climbing with) to the chains for a total length of 70 feet. Yikes! It's tough, and I'm getting my ass kicked on almost every attempt, but each time I rope up I feel a little bit stronger and more confident that I didn't lose *all* my climbing prowess while I have been in the Navy. Visualization and a positive attitude have been the keys to the slow, but on-going training success. Jenny and I have been helping each other visualize sending difficult sections as well as helping each other keep a positive attitude despite the numerous work-related set-backs. I'm not sure when I'll send, but when the time is right, the send will manifest--that, I am sure of.

Other wonderful progress comes by virtue of Jenny's erudite natural horsemanship pedagogy and our horse Grace's good, patient spirit. Many of you many not know, but Jenny is training to compete in ROLEX, one of the largest Equine Three-Day-Events in the US, in the next few years. When we purchased Grace, our French-Italian Selle Français, Jenny's vision was to train and compete in the Europe Cup Equine events in and effort to prepare for ROLEX. Over the past ten months, she's made incredible progress in her efforts by taking Grace, who was treated very harshly before we purchased her, and transforming her into a model Parelli-style natural horse. On a daily basis Grace boggles the imagination of all on-looking Italians--as well as me! I, too, am in great awe as I have the distinct privilege to watch first-hand the transformation occur (I also know the trainer, quite well, which is wonderful indeed!) =).

Grace has transformed much, Jenny has expanded her pedagogic scope, and I, too, have metamorphosed. Previously--that is, before Jenny and I met, I had very little experience by way of horsemanship. Suffice it to say that I knew of horses, at times I'd pet a few of them, and on occasion, I'd even tried to take a little ride (much to the entertainment of the stable hands in Carmel, CA). But, never had I in earnest tried to ride with style and concentration. When I met Jenny, all of my neophyte horsey ways changed.

She exposed me to the world of serious equine love and passion. Those of you who know me understand that when I use the word 'passion' the spark in my eyes ignites and virtually nothing can extinguish it. And, when I find and meet people who live their lives driven by their passions, I am immediately drawn to them. JennyMarie is the only person I have ever met who truly lives her life by her passions. She inspires me, motivates me, and carries me when my motivation runs low. Our passions perfectly compliment each other in the same way our love for each other perfectly compliments the other. It's simply amazing!

Ten months later, I have developed a deep respect for horsemanship in the fashion that Jenny teaches. Becoming a horseman has taught me much about patience, self-awareness, mindful emotional control, and awareness of a consciousness that goes beyond the human world--a consciousness that includes that of horse and rider. A place so delicate that deepest, most well-guarded primal emotions are understood and reflected back to me in a way that is undeniably crystalline. Without a doubt, I can say that learning to understand, feel, and communicate with Grace--beyond the superficial methods of domination, control, and demand accomplishment--has profoundly augmented my awareness of the finest, most important details of my marriage with Jenny and our relationship together.

With other activities, such as climbing, that sponsor domination over inanimate objects such as rocks, hockey pucks, and barbells, it's easy to lose perspective and lose focus on the finest details of human existence. Yet, while on a horse's back those fine details are magnified through the animate, living, feeling, and conscious animal in a way that makes it impossible for me to avoid. Thus, through accepting the horse as an equal and committing focused, mindful awareness into my relationship with Grace, I have experienced a positive transformation in myself and in the fashion in which I conduct my life with the most important person in my life--JennyMarie.

Hope this post finds you all well. We're heading to the US for Holly's Graduation and Scotty and Meghan's Wedding. We'll write more when we return, or maybe, while we're in the US.

Love, compassion, and mindfulness to all--

Nate and Jen