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