Sully

Posted on by Frank DeMarco

Just watched Sully, about the USAir captain who saved 155 lives by landing his plane in the Hudson on Jan 15, 2009 after birds disabled both engines.

i had thought, how are they going to make this dramatic when everybody knows going in what the outline of what happened, and that it had a happy ending.

But wow, what a great thing they did.

Instead of focusing on the event itself, they focused on the inquest after the event, when the NTSB was trying to determine if he had done the right thing. Then, with flashbacks to the event, they went through the story. Very well done. Hard to realize that was almost EIGHT years ago.

Worth watching.

Death and life and an end to silly despondency

Posted on by Frank DeMarco

Ernest Hemingway was smart, quick, experienced, and incisive. His novels are filled with life, and in them he says many memorable and valuable things, things that will enrich your life.

He also says a very few silly ones, and ironically, the silliest thing he ever wrote is quoted on every side as if it made sense. From A Farewell to Arms

“If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken place. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry.”

At best, this represents the despairing mood of a rather young man who was prone to fits of despondency. But look at those five sentences – really look at them.

Continue reading Death and life and an end to silly despondency

A message from John?

Posted on by Frank DeMarco

This from Andy Walbert, who says I may share it. If others also hear from John, or suspect that they do (certainty is not possible, let alone being required, in these matters) I will be glad to share the messages here.

Sent: Monday, December 26, 2016 9:43 PM
To: Frank DeMarco <muddytracks@earthlink.net>
Subject: John Dorsey Wolf

Hi Frank,

I was saddened by news of John Dorsey Wolf’s passing on the blog.

Here’s what I wrote tonight…for what it’s worth. Which may be to show I have a good imagination… Yet part of your gift to me and the world is that it doesn’t matter what you call it, it resonates or it doesn’t. I didn’t think I’d bother you with this, yet the message is to send it…so here it is…

12-26-2016

So, here I am on a Monday night. Good to speak with you guys, gals and the “all of me”… What do I do in response to the news that John Dorsey passed?

Do whatever you want! Remember, you are connected, just because you never met him face to face doesn’t mean you are not connected. You read his posts, and they resonated with you. In the “bigger” field of awareness you are close friends.

  1. So I’ll res you up, John, from the small corner of the screen of my attention I thought I saw you waving and saying, Andy, it really works! Is that you John Dorsey Wolf?

Sure it is.

Well, that’s cool, how is the transition going for you?

I’m still figuring things out, and the Love and good thoughts from the community definitely made it easier. It’s like I’m well known, even before introducing myself around!

Well, I’ve enjoyed all your posts and your risk taking. I admire that. I’m sure we’re probably good friends in lots of different ways through the darn crystal that Rita’s World talked about, so as always I’m open to both sending and receiving support.

Well, that would be fine. I know you’re not in a position to pass on messages now, your certainty isn’t there, but if you get past the doubt and second guessing let the folks know that all is well and that like my wife said, I’m a kid in a candy store! Access is a wonderful thing! All is well! (Rita says “Hi!”)

John, forgive me, Rita says Hi to me, to the TMI list, the blog list?

No need to put that in. It was more so you knew Rita and I are connected in the All-D

Well, John sending you energy, even as you wrote of sending it to others. (Least I think it was you talking about sending positive energy.) Talk to you later!

All Love is good! Ta-na-sen!

 

John Dorsey Wolf

Posted on by Frank DeMarco

Ever notice how you can never have so many friends that you don’t miss a particular one when he moves on to other things? I got back from two days at my daughter’s to find this email from Carol Wolf about John.

Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2016 11:02 AM

To: Frank DeMarco; Dirk Dunning
Subject: John Dorsey Wolf

Dear Frank and Dirk,

I am writing to share some sad news regarding my husband, John Wolf. We were traveling to our home in CA on Tuesday and stopped for the night in Pacific Grove – a place we both love for it’s incredible natural beauty. We spent a wonderful evening at the Spanish Bay Inn feeling happy and excited about the upcoming holidays and looking forward to being with many good friends.  But things changed in the middle of Tues night.  John woke up to clear his nose and throat – he had been suffering from a terrible cold – and suddenly collapsed. I believe he passed on before the paramedics could arrive. They did their very best to revive him but it was not to be.

John was extremely thorough and had everything in order just in case …..  On the first page of written instructions to me, he asked that in the event of his death, that I e-mail you both to let you know he had made the ultimate transition.

John was so excited and enthusiastic about all he had learned from you. He valued your input as he progressed on his spiritual journey. I believe you became mentors to him.  He would read and reread and then read some more on what you had written. It definitely resonated with him. He was a changed man in all the best ways because of his new learning and his relationship with you.

If anyone can reach him, I have a feeling it is you. And I would love to hear from you if that occurs. I’m sure in his enthusiastic way he is enjoying and experiencing his new life to the nth degree.

I thank you so much for all the wisdom you passed on to my very special guy. He and I will be forever grateful.

Carol Wolf

I asked if she had any objection to my sharing the news among our community, saying “I agree with you, we should be able to contact him if anybody can, and of course we’ll let you know what we hear. There’s no knowing if it will be soon or late, of course. After Rita went over, six and a half years passed without contact (if you don’t count a couple of dreams that assured me she was fine). But, we’ll see. There was a real connection there, and I am very sorry we won’t get to have “the cup of coffee to think things over” that he had suggested.”

And Carol said:

Thank you Frank. I think John would like you to share with his TMIE family the fact that he is no longer with us – here.

He was more than prepared for this journey and that gives me great comfort. I have a feeling that as all this becomes more of a reality I’m going to be missing him even more. He had such endless positive energy – so it’s hard to not have that around me. But I am surrounded by a network of very loving family and friends – they have all offered tremendous support – so I know I’m going to be alright.

John talked so highly of you – a wonderful relationship that meant so much to him. You challenged his thinking and that was the way he lived his entire life – always seeking a new challenge – and then he’d go in 150%

With gratitude,

Carol

John was great in last April’s AIG class, and here, and as guest author on my blog. I often wondered if he had a book in him. But apparently he prefers a more direct form of exploration now. I don’t know whether to say “we’ll miss him” or “I expect we’ll be hearing from him.” Anyway, now you know.

 

John Wolf on power and consequences

Posted on by Frank DeMarco

 

Picking Power–And Its Consequences

A lesson for me that may be useful for others.

By John Dorsey Wolf

There are many kinds of power that thrive in our 21st century American materialistic society. For example: money power; idolizing power of entertainers, sports figures, supermodels; political power; power of position or job authority, and powers to govern and protect.

It is not uncommon to witness these powers being sought in excess or abused.  Beliefs in a dead-end universe, where life is accidental and without meaning; where life ends at death with no spiritual realms or existence of spiritual beings; where we exist alone and isolated to fend for ourselves for food, clothing, shelter, health, and physical safety exacerbate fears that fuel excesses and abuses.

Our society breeds other kinds of powers as well: creative, entrepreneurial, pioneering, self-initiating, competitive, risk-taking, paradigm-shifting powers with emphasis on independence and freedom of choice for every individual.  There are powers of support, compassion, and respect that can be energized.

Yet there are many people (including me) who feel powerless at one time or another.  They do not feel in control of their lives, their own welfare, or that of their family.  They feel powerless in the face of man-made or natural disasters, greed, diseases, recessions, corruption, oppression, racism, violence and abuse.

Continue reading John Wolf on power and consequences