My mental circus, inside and out.

The Death of Steve

What an amazing creature a stingray must be to pierce a man's heart.  What a mythical way to go for Steve, as if his death were made for storytelling.  The last moment was the most intimate union with a creature described, on emedicine, as non-aggressive towards humans.  Did he experience pain? Perhaps, for we read, "the stinger apparatus then injects a protein-based toxin into the wound, causing immediate intense (even excruciating)  pain to the victim."  He knew the danger as he approached these creatures, but he always had the invulnerability of the enthusiastic adolescent, and we watched him week after week amazed at how fearless he was, as if blind faith protected him somehow in a way that it never would have protected us. 

This writer's favorite Steve moment, though, was not of him wrastlin' the world's deadliest snakes and crocs.  Do you remember him in his too tight khakis, his fleshiness nearly busting through his buttons?  Did you see him crawling on the beach behind a frantic newborn turtle, whispering how dangerous this journey was, full of predators? And then he would say, "Go, L'il Fella, GO!!!"  That was the Tao of Steve.

How mundane our own deaths will seem, some hospital bed, a respirator, heaving our last breaths.  What a death, to be pierced in the heart by an elusive creature we have sought, hiding just beneath the sand under us.

Posted by: EmmaPele at September 05, 2006 07:07 | link | comments (5)

Comments:

#1  05 September 2006 - 21:42

 

Beautiful - thanks Emma. I still can't believe it.

mafidl

#2  05 September 2006 - 22:08

 

Indeed.

Jackal

#3  06 September 2006 - 08:40

 

Upon arriving in Australia as an american one would be constantly probed "I hope you didn't come down here from America thinking all Aussies are like that..." And of course I didn't think that. But I had to explain to him that in my opinion, in the USA, Irwin was anything but a laughingstock. He was greatly admired and loved, and represented the Australian passion for life, respect for nature, and lighthearted attitude about risk. I think he was an essential part of the spectrum of great Australians, and did a great deal to build even more worldwide admiration for this amazing country."

Quotes courtesy of my friend Matt Ford. Well said Matt.
-V

Anonymous

#4  06 September 2006 - 18:09

 

Very well said, both in the post and the previous comment. We all loved the daredevil with a huge heart; of course that's where the stingray knew he was vulnerable.

InMyLife

#5  07 September 2006 - 11:44

 

cool post

bluematrix

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