Saying goodbye to a giant

[Mythsaje]

(Now while I realize there have been a LOT of Steve Irwin threads today, I'm adding my own to it because this is an article I put up on gather.com about the matter and I figured I'd share it with you all as well).

I remember the first time I set eyes on him. I think he was dragging a timber rattler out of its hole by its tail. "Crikey! Ain't she a beaut?!" he exclaimed, holding the annoyed serpent up and twisting its head around so it couldn't bite him.

Some people loved him, some people hated him. But he was one of the last of a dying breed--an adventurer and naturalist in a world that's all but forgotten what it's like to brave the outdoors and gawk in wonder at the amazing creatures with which we share a world.

I've watched him wrestle crocs, and chase mambas through villages in Africa, and plunge heedlessly into rivers and swamps in pursuit of the next amazing creature. I've winced at his near misses, and shook my head at his seeming fearlessness, but I've always respected what he did. He was a man outside of his time, a conservationist and crusader for the animals he admired so...loudly.

He loved the animals, and the wild, and walked the edge to show us all that even a creature most of us would never consider cute or cuddly was, in its own way, fascinating and capable of inspiring awe.

Goodbye, Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter. He was, indeed, a brother to dragons.

My condolences to his friends and family for their loss. We can share but a small part of their grief.

A giant has passed, and we are all the poorer for it.

[MiniMandaRuth]

1. A little of my childhood died with him.

RIP... You will be missed.

[bahrbearian]

2. Very well put ,, I will miss him as well..Mythsaj

My condolences to his family for their loss.

[minnesota_liberal]

3. I'll miss him too, but this is the wrong forum (nt)

[Mythsaje]

4. I know...

I would've posted it to GD, but by the time I'd realized where I'd posted it, it was too late.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. I have heard

many "send offs" today and this one is one of the best. Thanks for speaking your mind.

[LibertyorDeath]

6. Thank you for this wonderful post

[mike_c]

7. I am truly amazed by all this....

I'm a professional biologist and ecologist, and I had only a vague notion of who Steve Irwin was until today-- I mean, I think I'd heard his name, but I'm not even sure about that. I haven't owned a TV in more than 15 years, so I've never seen him before the pics posted on DU today. Sounds like he was a passionate voice for conservation, and he clearly touched a great number of people. I wish I'd had a chance to see his show.

[hlthe2b]

9. you can buy many of his shows on DVD...

www.crocodilehunter.com and elsewhere...
It's down now because of heavy traffic, but you should be able to pick some up in the future. A bonus, MikeC, the profits all go to conservation.... HE was truly one of a kind and God did he LIVE life. Well done, Steve.

[Skittles]

10. he truly was unique, mike

the guy fasicnated and repelled and educated at the same time; I can think of NO ONE else in my entire 49 years who did that

[zdux0013]

14. yeah

yeah

[Duppers]

8. thank you

You expressed what was in my heart too. He will be sadly missed.

[farmboxer]

11. Good post. Stever Irwin was a very special human being.

It was so nice to have had a person who cared about our planet and our animals. I like they way he showed the frogs predictions about our planet's future. Bush and his pals could not have liked him, not at all. He was the opposite of someone like Bush & Pals.

[BigBearJohn]

12. Thank you so much for his tribute. He truly was a giant. i love his gusto

He had a true gusto for life. I wish I had a few friends like him.
I always admired him. In my eyes he was a real "man's man".

We should all be as in love with life as he was.
I guess it's true what they say that "the good die young."

I'll miss him.

[Mythsaje]

13. With all the venom sprayed at him today

I thought it fitting to write a decent tribute.

He was bigger than life and should be remembered as such.