The Crocodile Hunter: The Incredible Life and Adventures of Steve and Terri Irwin by Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin
Authors: Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin
Ads: Link
time.
We both stayed up late, watching Sui closely. Before I fell asleep I saw her raise her head. During the night Steve noticed her stir, trying to get comfortable. By morning she was able to stand, although she was shaking badly. We took it easy all day and Sui slowly recovered. To this day, after discussing her condition with several veterinarians, her injuries and recovery remain a complete mystery.
Steve, Sui, and me in the croc dinghy.
When Sui felt up to it, we explored the river by day for signs of crocodiles. Our biggest find was an active crocodile nest site. Steve spotted the mound of leaves and debris raked into a giant nest about three feet tall and ten feet across. It was built on the high end of an island, as if the mother crocodile was trying to nest above flood level. Judging from the size of the nest, she must have been a large croc as well. I went up to the nest site with Steve to help document the find. The eggs were examined and carefully replaced. If Steve was excited by this find, I was overwhelmed! In all my life I never thought I’d get to experience something so special. We left as quietly as we came and rejoiced over the perfect eggs we had found.
That night Sui seemed to be back to her old self and we were still on a bit of a high from the day’s find. I was feeling a bit dreamy, watching the stars, and I realized that I was really falling for Steve. It was definitely love. I was nearly asleep when I heard Steve’s voice out of the darkness quietly asking me if it was still tradition to ask a girl’s father first before proposing. I’m not sure what I said. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure Steve could hear it. I lay awake long into the night. I had a lot to think about.
We returned to the park later that week, safe and sound. There was no more talk of marriage, but a new feeling, almost electric, lingered between us. I was getting into the routine now. Everything from cleaning enclosures to crowd control and even serving in the shop was becoming easy now. But soon I’d be flying back to Oregon.
What with being with the staff all day and Steve’s family all night there wasn’t a lot of privacy, and we’d have to sneak off to some corner of the park to talk about the future and dream. One evening we sat under the fig tree next to the house and relaxed with a cool drink. We were discussing wildlife issues when Steve suddenly asked me to marry him. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about this moment. I just never expected it so soon. Four months earlier Steve and I didn’t even know each other. Then I heard a little voice say, “Yes, I will.” The little voice was mine. It must have been! In the midst of this emotional moment, Steve’s mum came out looking for us. She knew immediately what was going on and ran off to tell Steve’s dad.
The next few days were a rush of celebration—telling the staff, parties, calling my parents, and trying to figure out a wedding date. We decided to marry in June. The wedding would be in my hometown in Oregon. Steve invited me to stay in Australia until the wedding, but I knew I had to get back. I would have less than four months to get ready to change my life forever.
Back in the States it was strange to be in the middle of winter again after leaving the subtropical Sunshine Coast. Time flew by as I made arrangements both to get married and to move so far away. Planning the wedding was a job of pure joy, but I became aware very quickly that some of this joy would be mixed with pain.
The first consideration was for my family. My parents had started their own business in the field of construction back in 1949. Growing up, I’d worked long hours learning this business from the ground up. Dad taught me how to type when I was just eight years old. And Mom was always coaching me on my printing and spelling skills. When I played with the other kids in the neighborhood I didn’t play with dolls, I organized business enterprises selling
We both stayed up late, watching Sui closely. Before I fell asleep I saw her raise her head. During the night Steve noticed her stir, trying to get comfortable. By morning she was able to stand, although she was shaking badly. We took it easy all day and Sui slowly recovered. To this day, after discussing her condition with several veterinarians, her injuries and recovery remain a complete mystery.
Steve, Sui, and me in the croc dinghy.
When Sui felt up to it, we explored the river by day for signs of crocodiles. Our biggest find was an active crocodile nest site. Steve spotted the mound of leaves and debris raked into a giant nest about three feet tall and ten feet across. It was built on the high end of an island, as if the mother crocodile was trying to nest above flood level. Judging from the size of the nest, she must have been a large croc as well. I went up to the nest site with Steve to help document the find. The eggs were examined and carefully replaced. If Steve was excited by this find, I was overwhelmed! In all my life I never thought I’d get to experience something so special. We left as quietly as we came and rejoiced over the perfect eggs we had found.
That night Sui seemed to be back to her old self and we were still on a bit of a high from the day’s find. I was feeling a bit dreamy, watching the stars, and I realized that I was really falling for Steve. It was definitely love. I was nearly asleep when I heard Steve’s voice out of the darkness quietly asking me if it was still tradition to ask a girl’s father first before proposing. I’m not sure what I said. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure Steve could hear it. I lay awake long into the night. I had a lot to think about.
We returned to the park later that week, safe and sound. There was no more talk of marriage, but a new feeling, almost electric, lingered between us. I was getting into the routine now. Everything from cleaning enclosures to crowd control and even serving in the shop was becoming easy now. But soon I’d be flying back to Oregon.
What with being with the staff all day and Steve’s family all night there wasn’t a lot of privacy, and we’d have to sneak off to some corner of the park to talk about the future and dream. One evening we sat under the fig tree next to the house and relaxed with a cool drink. We were discussing wildlife issues when Steve suddenly asked me to marry him. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about this moment. I just never expected it so soon. Four months earlier Steve and I didn’t even know each other. Then I heard a little voice say, “Yes, I will.” The little voice was mine. It must have been! In the midst of this emotional moment, Steve’s mum came out looking for us. She knew immediately what was going on and ran off to tell Steve’s dad.
The next few days were a rush of celebration—telling the staff, parties, calling my parents, and trying to figure out a wedding date. We decided to marry in June. The wedding would be in my hometown in Oregon. Steve invited me to stay in Australia until the wedding, but I knew I had to get back. I would have less than four months to get ready to change my life forever.
Back in the States it was strange to be in the middle of winter again after leaving the subtropical Sunshine Coast. Time flew by as I made arrangements both to get married and to move so far away. Planning the wedding was a job of pure joy, but I became aware very quickly that some of this joy would be mixed with pain.
The first consideration was for my family. My parents had started their own business in the field of construction back in 1949. Growing up, I’d worked long hours learning this business from the ground up. Dad taught me how to type when I was just eight years old. And Mom was always coaching me on my printing and spelling skills. When I played with the other kids in the neighborhood I didn’t play with dolls, I organized business enterprises selling
Similar Books
