Back from Seattle / RIP Croc Hunter
Well, JJ and I made it back from a nice trip to Seattle to see our dear friends and for her to get some shopping done for the wedding. Pictures are already up on Mothergoat and Dr. Cox's blog, so go check them out.
It was great to see MG and Dr. Cox again, and also really awesome to touch base with StalkingElmo, whom I haven't really seen for about a year (or more, perhaps). JJ was able to get some quality time in with her sister and "Trrreeeeenaaaahhh", which I think she really needed.
So, the trip was awesome, and we're back in our respective towns plugging right along.
On a sadder note, while playing a game of Warthog Chicken, Dr. Cox shouted from the other room that the Crocodile Hunter had died. So, once we were finished, we looked it up. Sting ray barb to the heart. What a way to go.
Part of me was surprised that I was surprised at the fact that he was killed by an animal, given his track record on that sort of thing... but that doesn't make it any less sad. God be with his family as they go through this rough time.
It was great to see MG and Dr. Cox again, and also really awesome to touch base with StalkingElmo, whom I haven't really seen for about a year (or more, perhaps). JJ was able to get some quality time in with her sister and "Trrreeeeenaaaahhh", which I think she really needed.
So, the trip was awesome, and we're back in our respective towns plugging right along.
On a sadder note, while playing a game of Warthog Chicken, Dr. Cox shouted from the other room that the Crocodile Hunter had died. So, once we were finished, we looked it up. Sting ray barb to the heart. What a way to go.
Part of me was surprised that I was surprised at the fact that he was killed by an animal, given his track record on that sort of thing... but that doesn't make it any less sad. God be with his family as they go through this rough time.
posted by Raoul The Destroyer at 8:41 AM
10 Comments:
I do have sympathy for his family, it definitely is a difficult time for all of them, but-- you'll all think I'm a heartless something or other after this-- it makes me mad how selfish he and his wife was. I mean, he left behind two beautiful children. Who by the way are grieving for their deceased father without their mother to comfort them because she is off hiking in asia. Not to say that adults cannot do the things they love after starting a family, but when you have kids, I believe that you need to stop doing things that puts your life in danger for the sake of your children. I think he did wonderful things for the environment and animal conservation, etc. but there comes a time, like I said earlier, when you should put your children first and not your love of animals or animals themselves or adventure or whatever. I'm not saying you can never have fun once you have children. I loved the Croc Hunter, he was great. But at the same time, forget the fact that he died doing something that he loved-- that's all great and good if your single and on your own-- but he had other people in his life that he should have put first.
Sorry I offended anyone! I just needed to say that!
Sorry, but I gotta disagree. If you're gonna put food on the table, you may as well do it by doing something you love.
Plus, just because you have kids doesn't mean you should bury and forget your passions. Instead, they both went out of their way to incorporate their children in to the life they had built.
If they had just stopped, it would have probably bothered both Steve and Terri that the work they had started was never finished or carried to the lengths that they would have thought it ought have been carried to, and more than anyting I think they would have felt that they cheated their children more than anyone else.
As for Terri being on a hike: Moms deserve a break every once in a while. If my advisor had to give up going backpacking every once in a while without the kids, I think she'd go nuts.
I'm not sayin that at all. I said,
"Not to say that adults cannot do the things they love after starting a family, but when you have kids, I believe that you need to stop doing things that puts your life in danger for the sake of your children."
I'm all for mom to have a break. But perhaps they should have planned it when one or the other parent could be home with the children.
They can still enjoy nature/animals without putting their lives at risk, just tone it down a bit.
I would have to agree with raoul on this one. Yes his job was a more dangerous one then most people's jobs. But does that mean he loved his job more than his kids? Does it mean that if he wasn't the croc hunter, that his life would not have ended at this time? No. People take risks everyday, just by getting in a car or crossing the road. We can never know what will happen or how we will die, but we can love life and live it in a way that is pleasing to God. He wasn't a gambler, or drug addict or into anything that was a self-destructive or destroying his family. He loved animals and his job, but if he has that much passion for those things imagine how much more his passion would have been for his family. It is a terrible situation that the mom is hiking and can't be there with the kids, but it isn't intentional and I know that if she did know, she would be by their side in a flash.
I just cannot understand how they can be considered selfish in a situation like this. This is an event you just cannot plan for, and calling her selfish simply because she didn't know about it is kind of off-base. Furthermore, I'm sure she left the kids with close, dear friends, as they were both very devoted parents and I doubt they would have left the kids with someone they didn't trust and who would not have been a comforting presence to them.
It might not have been intentionally selfish, but when he continued to put himself in dangerous positions like that he defintely wasn't thinking of his kids. There is a HUGE difference between the risks of every day life and the risks he would take. There are responsibilites that one must take upon themselves when kids are involved. He could have continued his passion without getting so close to danger. He died filming a show titled "Ocean's Deadliest". That shows that he should have known the risks involved and that it would be a very inopportune time for his wife to be so unreachable.
The main problem lies in his loss of respect for the danger of wildlife. Do you remember how he practically dangled his baby in front of a croc a few years ago? Nobody, no matter how much of an expert they may be, would do a thing like that if they still had that respect. He took so many chances during his life that he probably didn't see this as risky when he should have. None of us should have been surprised by his death. Those that were fell into this same attitude that he was "invincible". You've said yourself that you are surprised that you were surprised. That's common sense kicking in.
There will always be an unknown aspect of life that we cannot control, but that shouldn't mean that we treat our lives any less precious, and that we put ourselves into obvious places of risk when we have responsibilities like children.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-01-02-irwin_x.htm
Ok...so I have had the whole day to think about what Carrie is saying and I would have to say that I agree with both sides. I don't think they were being bad parents, but I do think that it isn't a good idea to always knowingly put yourself in danger.
I think there can be a good balance when it comes to being responsible and still doing the things you love.
Anyway, based on some of the comments the wife has said about his death...maybe they were said out of anger and grief...but she made it sound like there were some family problems because of his job.
Just wanted to point out that I think it's been more than a year since I saw you, Raoul. I was in Lawrence for Brandon's wedding, but you left a few hours before I got into town, remember? Was good to see you though.
Yeah, I think you're right. Wow, it really had been a long time, huh?
You hit it right on the nose kelloh! Isn't that a weird phrase? By the way, I thought I saw your mom at the grocery store the other day and so I followed her for a little bit to see if it was her, but it wasn't. In fact, once I got a good look at her, she looked nothing like your mom! Just thought you'd like to know! :)
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