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Our latest adventure this weekend is the care of an 11 year
old hinge-back tortoise. We are reptile-sitting because this little guy is in
transition. His original family is moving back to Canada and his new family is
out of town. The girls are excited. Ok, that’s an understatement—they are
obsessed. We may have trouble handing little Tortue (French for turtle) over to
his new family! They even spent an hour last week decorating his box in anticipation (you can see some below) with scenes of things they thought he might enjoy--bugs, grass, cloudy skies.
Fun fact: many languages (Kiswahili included) do not have different terms for turtles and tortoises. They just don't make the distinction. It's the opposite of that urban legend about Eskimos and their many many words for snow. Or click here if you're really into the debate and want it discussed by a linguist from Berkeley. Growing up with tortoises (and sometimes a few turtles, too) at my parents' house, we have been careful to teach the girls the differences between amphibians and reptiles!
Fun fact: many languages (Kiswahili included) do not have different terms for turtles and tortoises. They just don't make the distinction. It's the opposite of that urban legend about Eskimos and their many many words for snow. Or click here if you're really into the debate and want it discussed by a linguist from Berkeley. Growing up with tortoises (and sometimes a few turtles, too) at my parents' house, we have been careful to teach the girls the differences between amphibians and reptiles!
He is a cutie, and feisty too. We were warned not to put him
down in the yard because he’s an escape artist. He wiggles his legs when you
pet his shell just the way he likes it. He stretches his neck to have his head
rubbed, or when he sees a tasty treat...like that slug we found yesterday.
“Every time I pick him up, he smiles.” –Claire |
They watch him, they pet him, they shove pieces of food ever
closer to his face, “in case he can’t see it, Mommy.” It’s touching to watch.
To see their pride when they showed friends who came over, how they wanted to
teach them everything about the little guy. They are concerned that “he feels
sad because he had to say goodbye to his mommy and will miss her.” So, they
shower him with love. He’s a lucky little guy.
Of course, I saw the teachable moment and talked about
responsibility. How animals need to be cared for. How being responsible for
something or someone is a huge gift but also a huge sacrifice. And they got it. And I probably waxed on too
long, making sure.
And then I stopped in my tracks because that is what I
needed to be reminded of: how beautiful it is to love and care for another
being. How it can seem like we shower love and kindness upon others and most
days it looks like it’s just bouncing off their shells while they go on,
oblivious to our ministrations. At least that’s what raising little ones, or
being married, or seeking friends can feel like to me when I’m feeling grouchy. But when I step back, I can see that loving without expectations isn’t futile—it’s the
most precious way to love.
May I learn from the love that my girls give with so much
abandon, to fiercely care, to give just for the joy of it because I have
something to give.
Aren’t we all wishing to have faith enough to shout,
“Tortoise, I love you!” like Ainsley does. To have faith that the world is
listening; is receiving all that love.
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“C’est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta
rose si important.” –le Petit Prince
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