white noise

Jon and I are on our way to Reno this month for a short visit with friends and family. I get to meet my nieces for the first time. I’m looking forward to seeing all of them and getting an infusion of desert life again. Having been here in Virginia for 3 years (almost to the day), it’s strange to admit that I miss the desert landscape.

In other news, I’m sure every one is aware that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin passed away last Monday, September 4th. There are few celebrity deaths that shock me or have a last influence, but his is one of them. I can’t claim I was a huge fan. On the contrary, I often thought he was cracked; he seemed either manic or just another adrenaline junky. Yet, I can’t deny that he made an impression. My view of wildlife, especially crocodiles, changed because of exposure to the creatures I got through watching the Crocodile Hunter on Animal Planet. I certainly haven’t lived my life hanging by his every word, but his devotion and enthusiasm were contagious.

I am sad for his family, for the grief they must now suffer and that shall linger a lifetime. I am sad for the loss of a good man and for the animals whose cause he championed. Sometimes when a person is larger than life or we think of him or her as heroic, we forget they are also human and just as fragile as the rest of us. Steve Irwin knew the danger in the risks he took and he took them anyhow. He wasn’t above emotion, wasn’t beyond the reach of stupidity, and sometimes he got bit. Still, he made me want to be more thoughtful, more considerate of my surroundings and more mindful to how I affect the environment. I think he accomplished his goal; he made me want to do more and be better. I carry a deep respect for him.