Laughing Wolf

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Into The Light:  Charlton Heston

After a long struggle with Alzheimer’s, the Omega Man has passed.  Actually, he was much more the Alpha Man, always willing to take a leadership role in things he felt were important.  He crusaded for civil rights long before it became the thing to do, championing the concept of justice and equality in many areas.  While many saw him becoming more “conservative” with age, it might be better said that he remained a champion of individual liberty, equality, self-reliance, and fairness while others shifted.  He lived what he preached, was married to the love of his life Lydia for more than 60 years, and was surrounded by several generations of his family at his passing.

I had the honor to meet him briefly, I think at an AFI film premier/event for The Right Stuff.  He was gracious and charming, but if it was indeed at that event his signature is not alongside those of Yeager, Cooper, and Carpenter.  It is rare to meet someone you admire and inspired you in your youth, and that night allowed me to meet many.  Oft such meetings are not great, as one discovers feet of clay and boors behind the facade; yet, that night I remember how many of those I met were in the mold of what they represented.  He was that, though he did not want his presence to overshadow those who truly had done.  That says much about him, and as for me I simply know that the light has welcomed him home and may it shine down on his family now and in the days ahead. 

LW

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Into The Light:  Sharon Dooling

Sharon Dooling, a Navy veteran, lover of wolves, and wife of friend and mentor Dave Dooling passed into the light today, Easter Sunday.  She asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the American Indian College Fund.  It was a pleasure to know her, even not being able to mention “Auburn” in her presence, and I know that the light has welcomed her home.  May it shine down and warm, protect, and guide those she has left behind. 

LW

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Into The Light:  Arthur C. Clarke

His work ranged from wry short stories to massive tomes pondering the imponderable, and his science writing was some of the best around for many years.  Personally, while my pre-teen/early teen self was quite intrigued with his descriptions of post-mission orgies (Rendezvous with Rama is a good example), his short story collection Tales From the White Hart remains my favorite tome of his.  I did not agree with all his positions or ideas, but his writings, science and fiction, helped shape my early work and writings, and opened many new doors of thought for me.  His influence will continue on for as long as his works exist.  May the light have welcomed him home. 

LW

Friday, January 11, 2008

Into The Light:  Cousin A

It’s not really a surprise, but I just got a call letting me know my cousin, A, has passed away.  She had been in poor health for a while, and hadn’t been able to do lot of late.  She was someone I enjoyed a lot as I got older, for she was the baker in the family.  I had always enjoyed her baking, and our mutual love of cooking and culinary exploration brought us closer together over the years.  A favorite part of my visits home, particularly at Christmas, was sitting and talking cooking, cooks, and cooking shows with her.  Those memories bring something somewhere between a smile and a grin as I sit and type.  May the light have welcomed you home dear A, and may it shine down with a warmth like butter on those you leave behind. 

LW

Friday, January 04, 2008

Ahhh, Fuck

Yes, I normally stay away from such language, but we’ve lost a good one.  Andrew Olmstead has left a final post that is also here where he posted as G’Kar.  May the light welcome you home, and shine upon your family now and in the days ahead. 

LW

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Into The Light:  Hank Reinhart

Not a lot of information yet, but Hank Reinhart has passed into the light today.  If you know weapons, particularly edged weapons, then you know about Hank.  I’ve heard him described any number of ways, but he was always courteous to me and was helpful in many ways and on many occasions.  He freely shared some of his hard-won knowledge with me, saved me from some bad decisions in regards weapons, and his knowledge of history (not to mention the technological history of weapons and the impact of same on the history of the time) was amazing.  I lift a glass to you, and I ask you to keep his wife Toni in your thoughts in the days ahead. 

LW

NOTE:  Mourn him? No.  Miss him?  Yes.  Celebrate his life and be glad that I knew him even briefly?  Hell Yes! 

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Into The Light:  T

I just have learned that a dear and wonderful lady and friend, T, has passed very unexpectedly away.  She was having some scheduled surgery when something went horribly wrong.  She was a true delight, with quick mind, a very good sense of humor and a love for animals that knew few bounds.  Her Scottish brogue was charming, and she thought the world of Jenny.  She was a good lady, and I am honored to have known her and glad that I had the opportunity to share some of her far too short a time on this Earth.  May the light enfold and embrace you, warm you with love, and welcome you home.  May all the four-legged people who preceeded you be there as well. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Into The Light:  Christiana Hendrix

Christiana Hendrix of Cold Fury died Friday afternoon in an accident, doing something she loved.  I can remember when she came into Mike’s life, and the joy she so obviously brought.  Please keep Mike and all those who knew and loved her in your thoughts, and take the time to say a few words to them over at Cold Fury. 

Sunday, January 21, 2007

A Hell Of A Note

Yesterday was one of those days you just can’t figure out.  Parts of it were good, very good; and, parts of it were strange or worse.  It ended on a hell of a note, including having to help encourage someone to go to a doctor/ER, then getting home to find messages that apparently a young lady I have known since about the time she started school, was dead.  I keep hoping that someone will tell me the message was wrong, after all the fish-wrapper in Macon, GA had the last name spelled wrong if it is indeed her. 

13-years-old.  She died during breath play, edge play, what the kids are apparently calling “The Choking Game.” You cut off oxygen to the brain, usually by cutting off blood flow, and when it comes back it is a rush, including for some a sexual rush without any vestige of sex.  A rush without drugs.  Some are doing it in pairs, literally choking each other.  Others use belts, scarves, plastic bags, and other implements and do it by themselves.  I rather suspect that the highest percentage of the kids who die playing this game do so by themselves, when they goof and no one is there to catch them or call for help.  That’s what happened to her. 

13-years-old.  A scarf.  I wonder if it was silk, for silk sounds good in fantasies but has a nasty habit of tightening and not coming untied—nor is one able to slip even a slip knot with it.  A couple of other fabrics have similar tendencies, but silk is the worst. 

13-fucking-years-old.  She was not a stupid child; not slow; not even average.  Above average in everything but height.  I remember laughter, surprising conversations, and a spirit that was many times the size of the body that housed it.  A face bright with excitement and joy in and at exploration.  I know that this last year and a bit had to have been rough on her, with the unexpected death of her father and a forced move to the mother (divorced), but this is just not something I would ever have imagined her doing.  Going for the rush.  Craving it.  Doing it stupidly.  Bloody bleeping hell. 

If you have kids, go hug them.  Now.  Meditate, pray, whatever it is you do, do it.  For them, and for this “E” Then give those kids another hug. 

LW

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Into The Light:  Aunt E

Just got the word that my aunt E passed into the light yesterday.  She gave the big C a good fight.  May the light shine on those she leaves behind, light their path, and fill their lives with warmth.

LW

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Into The Light:  AG

Well, they say these things run in threes, and I am afriad that in this case I am afraid this may be true.  A great-aunt of mine, a strong figure in the family, went into the light today.  It was not unexpected, and a blessing given all.  May the light have welcomed her home, and may it light and warm the way for those she left behind. 

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Into The Light:  Steve Irwin

Of all the ways I would have expected the Crocodile Hunter to go, this was not one of them. 

Steve was a showman, yes, and a nut—in the good ways of the word.  He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and did not take as many risks as many believed.  Instead, he did things with a strong sense of calculation, knowing his limits and that of the animals with which he interacted.  Don’t take my word for it, go to real experts and hear what they are saying.  Last night, I saw a great news program that featured Jack Hanna and Jim Fowler.  For those of you old enough to remember Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, Jim was the one who always got to wrestle the beast of the week while Marlin Perkins went and viewed the butterflies (or at least in the version a cousin and I did in satire).  Both are experienced, and have a lot of wisdom in the field.  Jim, in particular, talked about Irwin and how he really didn’t take risks per se.  It is worth noting that Steve was never bitten by a poisonous snake… Those saying that he took risks, or poked/provoked the ray, well, a lot of it seems like sour grapes to me, grasping for a moment of fame on far greater coattails. 

Steve’s enthusiasm caught with audiences, and he did much to get younger generations interested not in the showmanship, but in the meat that is animal science.  From behavior to biology, he made it fun, accurate, and interesting.  As friend G noted, he was the best PR snakes have had in all of history. 

I hope that this will not be lost in the days ahead, and that his work will continue.  What he did, both in public and in private, is important.  I also hope that a wish of his will be honored, and the film of what happened is released as he apparently desired.  May we all learn from it, one more lesson from a man who did much to make animals fun and interesting again. 

Meantime, I wish the best for his wife and children.  May the light shine on them in days ahead, and warm them and guide them on the path they now must follow. 

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