The first sign of Spring!

    THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY i WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND i STOPPED AT AT LIGHT AND NOTICED SOMETHING SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION.  MY PAST EXPERIENCE TELLS ME IT'S A TURTLE.  i CAN'T TELL IF IT'S ALIVE OR NOT SO i WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE.  WHEN IT TURNS GREEN i SLOWLY EDGE OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION TO SEE FOR SURE.  YEP IT'S ALIVE AND STUCK IN A VERY PRECARIOUS POSITION.  i TURN OFF MY CAR AND HOP OUT TO SNATCH IT UP.  THE LADY BEHIND ME LAYS ON THE HORN AND i HOLD UP ONE FINGER TO SAY TO HER, "HOLD ON FOR ONE SEC PLEASE".  WHEN i CLEAR THE FRONT OF MY CAR i NOTICE ANOTHER GUY HAS STOPPED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND AS i SCOOP UP THE TURTLE HE YELLS "COOL" AT ME.  i RETURN TO MY VEHICLE AND HOLD UP MY PRIZE TO THE LADY BEHIND ME TO SHOW HER WHY i STOPPED.  SHE SMILES AT ME AND NODS HER HEAD.  i DEPOSIT MY NEW FRIEND IN THE FLOORBOARD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR AND START UP THE ENGINE.  i ALMOST MISS THE GREEN LIGHT.  MY NEW FOUND BUDDY IS TRYING TO CLIMB THE CARPET AND DISAPPEAR BEHIND MY DASHBOARD.  i TAP THE TURTLE ON THE TOP OF IT'S SHELL WITH MY ICE SCRAPER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT TO STOP IT'S VANISHING ACT.  i ALMOST GET INTO SEVERAL ACCIDENTS TRYING TO WRANGLE 'MY LITTLE HERD OF ONE' SO i PICK IT UP TO KEEP IT OUT OF TROUBLE.  IT IS AN ORNATE BOX TURTLE AND HAS THE MOST ORANGE ON IT THAT i HAVE EVER SEEN.  REALLY BEAUTIFULL AND OLD.  THE EYE COLOR OF BOX TURTLES TELLS YOU WHAT SEX THEY ARE, THIS ONE HAS THE BIGGEST ORANGE EYES BUT i CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT SEX THAT MEANS.  SO I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY LEFT HAND, SETTING DOWN THE TURTLE WHEN i NEED TO SHIFT AND TRYING NOT TO GET INTO A WRECK.  LOL, i MUST BE A SIGHT, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR HOLDING A ORNATE BOX TURTLE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...  i ARRIVE AT MY STORE AND HAUL MY CATCH INTO THE STORE WITH ME.  NO ONE COMMENTS THAT THEIR BOSS IS CARRYING A TURTLE THRU THE STORE, i GUESS THEY EXPECT THAT KIND OF STUFF FROM ME.  ::SHRUGS::  i SHOW IT TO SEVERAL OF MY ANIMAL LOVING CO-WORKERS AND THEN HEAD TO THE RECEIVING ROOM.  i POP OUT THE BACK DOORS AND TAKE MY BUDDY OVER TO THE WOODS AND DEPOSIT IT IN THE WEEDS NEXT TO THE CREEK.  i WATCH IT FOR A BIT AND THEN HEAD BACK TO THE RECEIVING ROOM BECAUSE THE CAFE TRASH NEEDS EMPTYING.  IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN i HEAD BACK TO THE WOODS TO LOOK AT THE TURTLE AGAIN BUT IT HAS VANISHED.  GONE.  i HOPE IT STAYS OUT OF THE ROADS FROM NOW ON...

 

 

St. David the Patron Saint of Lost Turtles...