Saving a Turtle

I did an enormous amount of driving today.  Lots of little trips to and fro.  Errand-running.  On one of those trips, down a smaller highway, I saw what looked like an upside-down bowl in the middle of the road.  As I slowed down and straddled it with my tires, I realized I had just passed over a small turtle.  My Sweet Kiddo was asleep in the back seat of the car, so I turned the car around, wondering if anyone else was going to do anything about this.  (Yes...that was the thought.  It wasn't my best moment.)  There was a turtle in the middle of the road, most definitely in harm's way.

I drove past it several times.  Back and forth I went, not knowing exactly what to do.  I realize--this seems silly.  Most normal people would have stopped, gone over, picked the thing up and put it by the side of the road where there was lots of tall grass leading to an even bigger field.  BUT...I am not an animal person.  I mean...really not an animal person.  I like dogs, for the most part, but if they jump on me, I start to feel less enthusiastic.  And they never, ever stop sniffing or licking.  I mostly dislike cats.  I intensely dislike any animal that doesn't have fur and have been known to run away when faced with them.  As an adult.  So...the helpless turtle in the middle of the road was a little more daunting to me than it would be to most people.

So, I finally stopped driving around it, pulled over, got out of the car and approached it.  Talking to it like I would talk to a small child.  "Hey there...are you going to pull your head in if I touch your shell, buddy?"  [Light tap on the shell with one finger to test the waters]  "Can I help you little guy?"  [A few more fingers on the shell.]  "Okay...I'm going to try to pick you up now."  [I hear a car approaching.  I stop, stand up, and point to the turtle, as if to show the approaching driver that I'm not just some wacko in the middle of the road.  Car continues on its way, driver unaffected by obvious nature moment.]

"Okay, buddy...here goes...I'm going to bring you over here and put you in the grass so you're safe, I'm not being mean to you." And I did it.  I picked it up and moved it, potentially saving it's little life.

I'm going to repeat:  I'm not an animal person, so this was a moment of immense personal growth for me, and I pondered it afterward.  What made me do it?  The desire to teach my daughter how to treat living creatures?  Eh....she was asleep.  I think the lesson was lost on her.   A newfound desire to create peace in the world because of all that great praying I've been doing?  Eh....I have been praying, but not for the ability to handle turtles.  A longing to be more friendly toward all living things because my vegetarian friends are rubbing off on me?  Doubtful.  I still love me some bacon.

I think today there was simply a tiny bit more courage inside of me than there has been before.  Maybe it's because I'm a parent, but it might also be because I've had the courage to say good-bye to some junk lately.  Not just physical junk, but the work of getting rid of some spiritual junk too.  Maybe it's freeing up my spirit for some other better things to make a home.  Maybe letting go of some stuff is giving me the juevos to free up some turtles in the world.  Who knows?

More errand-driving found me listening to the Oprah station on XM radio.  I heard Julie Morgenstern talking about organizing.  She said two of the most unbelievably profound things.  First, she said "Organization is not a talent, it's a skill."  WHAT?  Amazing.  You mean it's not something you're necessarily born with?  It's something you have to learn over time?  Brilliant.  I love it.  Needlepoint that for me on a pillow.  No wait, don't....I don't have anyplace to put that stinking pillow.

Next she said, "Organization is not the destination.  Organization is a gateway to a higher goal."
Again:  WHAT?!  Brilliant!  Julie Morgenstern, come here and let me kiss you!  I DO have a higher goal:  I want to live a peaceful life.  I want my daughter and my husband to feel a sense of peace in this home.  I want this home to be a welcoming haven.  Maybe even for a turtle...who knows?

So, saving a turtle was a big deal.  Slow and steady wins the race.