Weird!...but kind of cool!

OK...this was quite strange. But I enjoyed the experience. Mostly.

Yesterday I was finishing up my shift at the library by grabbing all the books from the back room -- the ones that had been shoved into the "drop box." In the pile I happened to see a black-and-white picture of Steve Irwin's face! The title of the book was Steve and Me. It was Terri Irwin's new book!!

I was so excited, but the excitement was tempered with a bit of sadness as I remembered the awful day when I heard the news about Steve. And then the excitement immediately gave way to the thought, "I'm sure someone will have this on hold...it is new, after all."

Apprehensively I scanned the book in and waited for the resulting receipt to print out indicating that it was on hold for someone. Nothing happened.

"Yes!" I said gleefully, albeit quietly (I was in the library, you know). Into my stack of take-homes it went. I started reading at dinner and was instantly captivated. I kept on reading after dinner too, and was amazed all over again at these two incredible people.

After a while my mum wanted to put on a movie, so we did that and then we all went to bed. And what did I dream about for most of the night?

Steve and Terri Irwin.

This would have been a completely enjoyable experience except that I had an "I-was-there" dream about his getting stabbed with the stingray's tail. I saw the whole thing happen. Saw him yank it out of his chest. Then the dream switched to an "I-wish-this-was-what-happened-but-since-it-didn't-I'll-make-it-happen-in-my-dreams" sort of thing.

He lived! There were red lines on his chest and arms leading toward his heart, and we knew it was only a matter of time before they got there, but he lived, at least for a while. I got to spend time with the both of them, eating dinner with them at their table and getting to know them, if only for a short time.

Very vivid dream. Very real. Very cool, except for the whole stingray thing. I can't wait to finish the book. I have no doubt whatsoever that I will bawl my eyes out, maybe several times, before I am done with it.

Good on you, Steve. We miss you. And good on you, Terri, for writing the book and sharing those parts of your life with all of us. Thank you.