First, a moose.
Then, the other day, on the same road: a small dark lump. I was doing 50 mph and held my breath as I steered over it, careful not to smash it with any of my tires.
There were cars behind me.
I could have kept going, except, of course, I couldn’t.
I pulled over. I made a U-turn. I drove back, holding my breath again.
The lump was still in the middle of the road, unsquashed, but surely not for long. A box turtle.
Dear God. I pulled over in the gravel, cringed as traffic flew by, narrowly missing the turtle with zooming tires.
I sprinted. I seized the little guy. I took him across the road, in the direction he was pointed. I hope I got him close to his intended destination. I did my best.
We do our best.
This same week: another small lump in the middle of a road. Crikey! Barely anywhere to pull over. And yet.
Of course. I jogged back to find him. Her? This one, feisty. When I touched her shell, she sprinted. I had no idea turtles could be so zippy. I lunged over and over for her. She was surprisingly strong, too.
Finally, I scooped her up, managing to avoid being squashed myself in the process. Crankiness emanated from the shell. She’d tucked herself completely inside it, and was surely grumbling. I bolted up a nearby lawn and set her down in a grassy, dewy, leafy glade. No thanks from the shell. My friend K insists I thwarted a tortoise suicide attempt and thus did not deserve thanks. She may be correct, but I could not bear to drive that stretch later in the day and find a crunched shadow.
I can only handle so much, these days. You know.
A moose, two turtles, and today, a deer. An arc of light tan motion, hurtling between my car and another. Gone. Safe. I exhaled, possibly for the first time in a week.
How many spirit guides can one have?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Ya done good. Remember Torquemada?
Er, did you remember to use Purell after your missions of mercy? (I couldn’t resist now, could I?)
Well, as far as spirit guides go, you have some good ones. Not to mention some very fine human ones! Mine is a bear…XOFifi
Be careful out there! I saw a rat on the subway tracks the other day– but I didn’t attempt to rescue it.
I’ve never met you, but I can picture you rescuing turtles. Bless your tender heart.
More proof of how awesome you are, Jenn. We are lucky to have you
Oh Jenn, I am just so relieved to have you posting again. I’ve been holding my breath for days, wanting to know you are okay. I’ve been lurking here for a while, but your post before last was so powerful that it’s had me checking back several times a day to see if you had posted again. Do you have any idea what a gift you are to the universe, turtles included? I hope the veil is lifting again. I don’t know you, but I do care about you.
WOW that is a lot to digest! I hope you’ve had your fill of things in the road!
I have a baby sparrow warmed by a heating pad even as we speak (type? read?). And returned a lost poodle to his mom while hiking earlier this week–rescuers are we.
You don’t think my spirit guide is a poodle, do you?
Maybe a host of spirit guides, but maybe also a community coming together, you know? These are maybe others, others who are on the same road, others who want to speak with you, that are coming to you and saying “Yep, here I am, too. Thank you for your involvement in my life, as I am now involved in yours.”
Just a thought.
It looks to me like you’re the guide for these wonderful creatures.
And you’re getting as many as you need.
I once worked with a very philosophical chef who used to tell me, “If you don’t stop to help the turtle across the road, what’s the point in taking the journey”.
No lie, he said this often – never saw a need to repeat it until today.
Watch out for the snapping turtles, they can take your finger clean off with one chomp.
You are my hero. I’d never be able to pick up a turtle. We have too many snappers around here.
Hmmm,
Maybe the turtle is saying “patience, slow steps and arm yourself with a thick shell.”
I love you forever for doubling back to save turtles. FOREVER.
I agree with “rayjoy”. I love turtles for the same reasons she described.
They are soft and sensitive on the inside but they have a thick shell to protect them from danger or polar bears when they need it. Sometimes they need to retreat and chill, and other times they need to just plod along at a steady pace. And the lucky ones get a caring person to pick them up when they’re in danger and set them back on a path – although it may not be the path they chose.
I also love sea turtle hatchlings -they have so many obstacles from the very beginning yet they continue to head toward the light.
By the way, I think your moose guide was looking for you today at the Saratoga Race Track.
You can make it through this-let someone pick you up and protect you.
-a recently diagnosed polar bear II
If you ever adopt a turtle (and maybe you already have, b/c i know you were like Professor Doolittle level of animal lover), I recently learned they eat anything, including cheese and ice cream. (I asked about those specifically). I hope they serve as comforting guides!
How many?, indeed. I love the cranky turtles….they remind me of my crotchety grandfather, who was only stirred when he was pissed.
Bless you.