[Written Tuesday, September 5th]
Why is it that the death of someone like Steve Irwin touches so many people?
Perhaps it is because the man had such a zest for life. Regardless of how some might have felt about his pursuits or his methods, it must be admitted that he was totally enthusiastic about what he was doing. He experienced joy doing what he was doing, and we experienced that joy by proxy, watching him jump around like a kid in an candy store (or perhaps more like a kid in a Diagon Alley toy shop!) and feeling like we were right there with him, anticipating the sugar rush. He was a big kid who had never outgrown his fascination with the way things worked, the mysteries of the animal world, and the importance of preserving what we have for future generations.
And, of course, he had that way-cool Aussie accent.
One of the things that we learned from Mr. Irwin was the fact that the world, although a dangerous place, is also filled with beauty and wonder, and that it is possible to look these dangerous creatures in the eye and appreciate them for what they are. He brought us in to their world, close-up, where it would otherwise be impossible for us to go, so that we might share with him the joy and excitement of seeing these marvelous creatures in their native habitat.
He was a great showman, an exhuberant cheerleader, a passionate spokesman, and a dedicated conservationist.
Most importantly, and more to our grief, he was a husband and a father, and will be sorely missed by them not only now but in the years to come. Our hope and good wishes then are for them, that they might remember the joy that he brought to the world, and that they might find comfort and strength in those who surround them now.
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