One Of A Kind, "Steve Irwin"

It happened Monday morning (September 4th). Dad called me and told me the sad news. Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray. I burst into tears. It felt like I lost a close friend or relative. I got off the phone with my dad and told Tom. Tom wasn't shocked. Not of Steve's death but he was shocked as to what had got him. A stingray. Tom made a statement not very long ago. He said, "Steve. What the fuck are you doing in the water?" He thought a shark was gonna eat him or hurt him badly. That the end was near for Steve Irwin. We all had made funny statements at one time or another, saying a croc was gonna eat him or a snake. Even Steve had made statements like that. Tom said that he would have felt better if it had been a croc to have killed him. Tom was still tore up. As well as his friend Jim. That was Tom's idol. "The best herpetologist this world will ever know", Tom said.

I was heartbroken. I cried off and on all day. I even woke up in the middle of the night crying. Then Tom and I watched CNN at four o'clock in the morning. I couldn't believe how it shook me. And somehow I could. Jeff Corwin said it best when he called Steve an immortal. That was how he had viewed him. As many of us did. We get use to seeing highly respectful people on TV, that they almost become like cartoon characters to us. We some how lead ourselves to believe that they will be around forever. Then reality hits. And you learn how very fragile life really is. Not too mention all the close encounters Steve had with the crocs and snakes.

I was heartbroken for two reasons. I loved Steve Irwin as a person, a friend to all especially animals. I loved his family and everything that they stood for in every possible good way. The fact that a great person was taken away so young hurt too.

The second reason I was heartbroken was the thought of his family. They pain they must feel. Pure hell. His wife, his children, and father. Not to mention all his friends at the Australian Zoo. But Especially his family. His daughter for the most part. Her daddy was truly her hero. She is at that age where she knows what is going on and will remember her daddy. I know what and how I felt about Steve's death. My pain compared to their's is nothing.......

Though, I am still very much depressed but much better than Monday. Slowly time heals all they say.

But let us not forget. Steve Irwin was doing what he loved best when he died. It was an honorable death. Though a bit too soon for us all. He was truly one of a kind, the best kind. He was possibly the greatest father and husband. He was indeed a beautiful person. Steve Irwin will live forever in our hearts. And may we all become just as enthusiastic and passionate about the animals and the earth we live on as Steve was, and maybe one day his children will pick up where he left off.