Bernadette and Veronica on Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France

(Pic at the top taken in 1999, the one at the bottom one year after her death - courtesy of Les Soeurs des Nevers, France)

I don't think I need to explain who St. Bernadette Soubirous was (1844-1879). Her life is known to almost every soul in the world. We all have heard about the miracles that happened in Lourdes, events that were too difficult or completely impossible to explain both by the scientific world and the Vatican. Not even so-called spontaneous recoveries were possible in some of these cases. But, really, who would care what doctors or priests or even the Pope had to say about this, when you all of a sudden discovered that your cancer was gone, that you could walk, that your speech came back, that you could see with retina's so destroyed that it never would be possible to use them ever again....and all of a sudden you saw the statue of St. Bernadette as clear as normal in that beautiful chapel, lit by 1000's of candles....

And really, wouldn't St. Bernadette listen to the prayers of her name-child accompanied by the girl whose name goes all the way back to Jesus' crucifixion, the woman who cleaned the face of the Lord on his difficult road to our Salvation?

Let's all pray and ask St. Bernadette to do what She thinks is best for Bernadette. And my daughter, your mother couldn't have chosen a better companion on this emotional and yes even joyful road to Lourdes, thank you for that gesture....Sebastiaan and me are with the 2 of you in our hearts and thoughts...

What a waste....what a pity....the "real" Crocodile Dundee has gone to the everlasting fields...

(Steve and his Terri and "some easy to handle croc"....pic courtesy of VG Norway)

It will be sad never to hear that typical Australian accent anymore (even I sometimes used expressions from his shows on Animal Planet...)....but his enormous enthusiasm made up for it (my opnion...). Who would have guessed he would be killed by the simple but deadly sting of a stingray, most of the time a peaceful but still dangerous creature. Nobody will ever tell us why that animal all of a sudden turned around and slashed Steve with his sting, right into his heart. I think he knew that "this was the end", he even pulled out the sting from his chest so he wouldn't be found like that and then....he died...quick...no pain...(this is what phycisians said afterwards)...

We all remember his wild wildlife...lol...but he pacified animals that were a horror to us by explaining the character in real life; he warned for signals, he told children easy to remember stuff about the usual animal like dogs, cats, llama's etc...in a way that YOU REALLY NEEDED TO LISTEN to this "cute" and happy looking man...and the beautiful thing was that he and his wife Terri really were performing as ONE couple, they never interfered with each others explanations, they just added info to each others story. And you couldn't stop loving this guy.....

Maybe it is good that Terri wasn't there when he died. She didn't deserve that. She will have a hell of a time with their two kids to "survive" every day that comes. Don't forget her in your prayers, please...

He liked danger but always calculated danger, he never turned his back to ANY animal because he knew that....well, this time the animal turned its back and attacked...and really, he didn't stand a chance....let's not forget the lessons he told us about loving animals....and remember there are no mean cats, dogs etc...only stupid owners.....

Steve, we will never forget you and the shows you gave us from the bottom of your heart....sleep peacefully now, you have done your job well...