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EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
VINCE'S GYM
Camping and Hiking With Neo
About a week
after we had solved the problems of the world talk, I mentioned
to Neo that I had moved out to Oregon to spend lots of time in
the wilderness camping and hiking, and to “commune with nature.”
I was lamenting that I had not found the time or perhaps made
the effort to take advantage of Oregon’s natural beauty.
Neo told me
that that hiking & camping was one of his big passions, and that
he often spent time in the wilderness. He told me that between
jobs he liked to go out into the wilderness alone anywhere from
two weeks to a month. I was impressed that he would stay alone
in the woods, especially for that length of time.
I said, “You
must know where there are a lot of isolated wilderness spots
that are more pristine and interesting than the properties of
BLM (Bureau of Land Management).
Neo said, “I
know lots of places mate.”
I said, “Is
there any chance that you could point me to a good place to go
camping?”
Neo said, “I
can do better than that, I can take you to several good spots.”
I was excited,
“That would be great!” “I’ll go see if a few of the other guys
from the gym would like to go.”
Neo quietly
said, “No.”
Confused I
said, “What do you mean no?”
Neo said, “No
offence, but I don’t cotton to spending time with most of the
blokes in the gym.”
I was taken
back by this comment, and more than a little offended because I
considered some of these people my friends, and I told Neo as
much.
Neo said, “I
understand that some of these people are your friends, and I
know you’re a loyal friend, more loyal than most people,
however, I don’t feel the same about your choice of friends.”
Feeling
defensive I said, “What’s wrong with my friends?” “I know some
of my friends like to bullshit and run around a bit, but at
heart they are pretty decent people.”
Neo said, “For
me it doesn’t matter if a person is basically good at heart,
what also matters is how they behave.” “Look Vinny, don’t git me
wrong, I like most of your friends and most of the people here
at the gym, but only at the gym…. my time is so precious that I
cannot hangout with people just because they may have potential
to be fully actualized people.”
I said, “What
do you mean?”
Neo said, “For
me it is not enough that people have potential but that they
make massive efforts to pursue their potential.” “I’m going
camping for three days and two nights, if you want to go with me
alone, yer are welcome to do so.”
I managed to
get Rick to watch the gym for me on Saturday and Monday. We left
in Neo’s old truck Friday night after I closed the gym.
Before I could
say anything Neo said, “Let’s agree not to talk until we get to
a camp spot and set up camp. I thought that was an unusual
request, and I was more than a little agitated, because I had
hope to use the opportunity to engage Neo in nothing but
conversation, so that I could find out about his entire life
story. I thought that he was as Winston Churchill said, “A
mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma” and I wanted
to solve the mystery, the riddle, the enigma that was Neo.
Nevertheless, I managed to honor his wish and I kept quiet, and
then my silence was focused on the passing scenic world outside
of Neo’s squeaking truck.
We drove well
into the night, and for a time I feel asleep through most of the
night. I woke up to the pink fingers of an unseen sun beyond the
horizon. I looked over at Neo and I was ready to blurt out a
question as to where we were, but my question was cut off by
Neo’s warning finger press against his smile and he simply said,
“Sshhh.”
We had been
driving on some back roads and the scenery no longer had that
tree farm look that you mostly see on the properties of BLM. The
forest appeared to have a more prehistoric look and except for
the roads there was a feeling of going back before the dawn of
mankind.
Neo pulled the
truck over and gets out. Without a word he gathers his rucksack
and bedroll, and I gather mine. He started to hike off the road
and into the wilderness. We hiked deeper and deeper into the
wilderness.
I had trouble
keeping up with Neo even though it appeared as though he was
moving at a leisurely pace. I was sweating bullets and he seemed
to glow from a slight sheen of perspiration. As I walked into
the wilderness I was trying to forget about my effort by
focusing on all of the trees and the plants and the animals such
as ground squirrels, raccoons, possums, skunks, woodpeckers, and
the occasional circling of hawks.
I think we
hiked for about two hours before Neo stopped and reach for his
canteen. He took four small unhurried sips as I greedily sucked
a glass and a half worth of water straight down. He moved
forward again and I followed deeper into the wilderness. I
worried that if I was to lose track of him how I would find my
way our. From the sun I knew where all of the directions of the
compass, and I knew that if I got into trouble that usually if
you follow a river then you often could find civilization and be
close to a soppy of water and food.
Within two
hours we reached a high mountain meadow and settled within sight
of a high mountain lake. The lake seemed to be formed by snow
runoff and it pulled into a lake because of a large depression
which had been formed eons ago by some geological event and with
the help of some beavers it had been dammed in certain areas.
The lake opened into creeks that ran down the mountains and of
course many of these would converge and become powerful and vast
river and stream systems that would run out into the ocean.
We stopped and
then Neo said, “Here’s a good spot… lets gather some fire wood.”
After gathering lots of twigs, pine needles, brambles, small and
large branches and then some good size logs, we both settled
down to rest and snack. Neo did not look as worn as I knew I
looked and most certainly felt. Despite our agreement that I
could talk when we got to camp, I now felt no rush to chat. I
felt like I did when I was a kid wandering the barrens alone…one
with God and creation. I felt drunk and exalted with what the
Indians call the “Great Spirit”, others have called “Mother
Earth”, “Mother Nature”, God…and so on.
MOST PEOPLE TALK BULLSHIT:
One Primate's Search For Intelligent Life
(GENESIS)
MOST PEOPLE TALK BULLSHIT:
One Primate's Search For Intelligent Life
(EXODUS)
MOST PEOPLE TALK BULLSHIT:
One Primate's Search For Intelligent Life
(REVELATIONS)
MOST PEOPLE TALK BULLSHIT:
One Primate's Search For Intelligent Life
(JUDGMENT DAY)
ADVENTURES IN MARINE BIOLOGY
THE MARINES: GOD'S CHOSEN
WARRIORS
CONVERSATIONS WITH NEO
NEO TEACHES ME THE ART OF WAR
& PEACE;
His Version of The Matrix
MEMORIES OF MY FATHERS
ZEN & THE ART OF RESISTANCE
TRAINING:
A Yogic & Scientific Approach To Weight
Lifting
ZEN & THE BIOLOGY OF
TRANSCENDENCE:
The First Matrix of Psychic
Phenomena
ZEN & THE ART OF KINESIOLOGY:
The Yogic & Scientific
Approach To Movement
ZEN & YOUR ENERGY SYSTEMS
ZEN & VARIOUS ASPECTS OF
TRAINING
HOMEPAGE TO VINCE'S GYM
HOMEPAGE |
