Photo by Jeff Jones
When I was growing up I used to say something akin to, “I can’t wait to get out of school so I never have to worry about another test again.”
My mom always countered with: “Just because you don’t go to school when you grow up doesn’t mean you stop learning.”
As moms usually are, she was so very right.
This month I’ve learned a lot. Especially in regards to how almost every day of every month has a designated “theme” attached to it. Take today, for instance. It’s World Turtle Day.
Like I mentioned in that article, I love turtles. Always have. My first turtle memory is of the large Galapagos turtles at the Phoenix zoo.
I was four. My sister’s boyfriend carried me on his shoulders through their pen (at that time you could walk amongst them) because I was afraid to. But I still wanted to be near them. I was fascinated by (and admittedly terrified of) them. While I didn’t want to stand by one, I also didn’t want to avoid them completely.
When we moved to Jacksonville, our downstairs neighbor in our apartment building, Brenda (who ended up becoming a dear friend), schooled me in turtle etiquette. Things she taught me included:
• If you see a turtle trying to cross the road, move it, but make sure to move it in the direction it was heading. (Apparently they do have a sense of direction. If you move them back where they were coming from, they’ll still try to cross the road and might not be so lucky to have someone stop for or avoid them the next time.)
• Balloons are very bad for turtles. Every time she saw a helium one floating in the sky above, she and her husband would say, “There goes another turtle.” (Meaning, there goes another turtle’s life.) Balloons, along with other trash, often end up in the ocean, where sea turtles can potentially ingest them or get tangled in their strings.
There were also many sea turtle protection groups in Jacksonville who would cordon off nests or nesting areas on the beach so beachgoers would know not to disturb them. In addition, they’d educate the public about the importance of not shining lights on the beach at night, because female turtles won’t come on shore to lay their eggs.
I don’t know what it is about turtles that fascinate me so much, but I sure can’t imagine a world without them. I’ve learned a lot lately about what I can do to respect them so they can continue living on this earth with us. Makes me grateful we never stop learning, just like Mom said!
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Are you a turtle lover too?
What’s your favorite kind of turtle?
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