Like a meteor . . .

"Oh yeah, and fuck the fucking Yankees"

Such was often Steve Gilliard's parting shot.

"Gilly" to those who, with or without cause, appropriated him as their friend. Online. A fearless blogger, who spoke from the hip, but with what seemed like a fairly encyclopedic knowledge to back him up -- on that limb he often went out on.

I felt a certain kinship to him and, surprisingly, had a clear idea that if I "got the time", and was in New York, I would definitely look him up. Highly unusual for a committed introvert like me.

Actually, he was the inspiration for me staring this abbreviated blog, which I acknowledged in my first post almost three years ago.

I never got to the point of advancing our acquaintance, except for a few exchanged emails, a link or two I would send him, and the occasional contribution to his fundraisers which he so painfully undertook (and of which he passed on a portion to other bloggers he considered worthy).

As I mentioned on my comment to Digby's notice of Steve's passing, Steve's approach and personna, which perhaps mirrored the person I never met in person, put me in mind of a meteor. Such was his intensity.

Perhaps it is not surprising, although so very sad, that he has burned out of this life.