A tale of two turtles

Save the snapper. (Care_SMC: Flickr)

This morning, I was buzzing along on a relatively empty stretch of highway, when I noticed a dinner-plate-size turtle by the side of the road. It looked as if it was fixing to cross the highway.

Now, I’m no oddsmaker, but I’m willing to guess that said turtle had about zero chance of making it across the highway alive.

I didn’t stop to redirect the turtle. I have felt terrible about that ever since.

This reminded me of a time when someone set a better example for me. I was 16 and learning to drive. My dad had picked me up from work (I waited tables in an ice cream shop) and I was behind the wheel, driving down a lonely country road.

There was a huge snapping turtle in the middle of the road. I got upset because I was sure the turtle would be run over. My dad told me to pull over.  He got out of the car and picked up a big broomstick-size stick., which he held horizontally in front of the turtle’s face. Naturally, the big old turtle chomped down on it. At that point, my dad picked the thing up and walked it across the road.

Whenever I think of examples of resourcefulness, compassion and being a shining example as a parent, I think of that.

Kyrie O'Connor