A Tribute To Steve Irwin
Like most people around the world, I woke up Monday morning September 4th and turned on my television to hear some of the saddest news I could possibly hear. Steve Irwin, "the Crocodile Hunter" was dead from a diving accident at the young age of 44 years old.
I was "Shocked," waiting for the commercial to be over seemed like a lifetime. I sat in disbelief as the newscaster went on to say that Steve Irwin had been stabbed in the heart by the barb of a stingray.
Because I like to swim free style with wild alligators and anyone that knows me, may look at me as a, ruff and tuff alligator wrestler. I do have to admit when heard the news of Steve’s death I teared up.
It has now been 2 weeks since that day. I wanted to sit down and write of my feelings about the man that I have always had so much respect for. Every time that I have sat down to write about Steve, my mind has gone blank. After the news story was over I went to my computer to check my e-mails.
I opened my e-mail box and there were many from Australia. The e-mails were from friends in Australia, Countrymen of Steve Irwin’s that had been on my airboat tour while visiting the everglades. Often, Australian tourists have asked me how I feel about Steve Irwin and the way he works with animals. I have always told everyone that, "Steve Irwin is "the ICON" of the industry, because everyone that watches animal shows around the world knows who Steve Irwin is." It was easy for me to use Steve as a best example to help everyone understand what alligators are all about. Many of the e-mails from Australian tourists that had been on my tour were sent to thank me for my kind words about Steve Irwin and to let me know what had happened. They weren’t sure if I would have heard, not realizing that Steve was a hero to the fans of the "Crocodile Hunter" television show here, as much as he was to the people of "Oz." As I sit here thinking about Steve, I have to thank him for all the great examples he gave me. Steve Irwin was a leader and a teacher and he opened doors for many of us that love nature as much as he did.
As my wife and I, sat and watched the Barbara Walters interview with Terri Irwin, we couldn’t help but wipe away many tears.
Terrible things happen in this world, yet I remain a spiritual man. It is hard not to be spiritual when you are surrounded by the wonders of nature that I see every day. While there are tears in my eyes, there is a smile on my face as I imagine that on Monday morning September 4th, God scooped up Steve Irwin, and holding him up for a better look,
God said,
"Crikey! Isn’t he a beauty?"
GOODBYE STEVE
We miss you.
GATORMAN (Glenn Wilsey Sr.)
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