Because of me, my granddaughter almost loses a couple of fingers.
We’re driving down a typical New England country road, bracketed with August-green swaying trees. Hawks swing on the tops of those trees, squawking loudly.
To our right is an almost-hidden river where kayakers slowly swing their oars. To our left is dense wood filled with squirrels and woodchucks and chirping sparrows.
“Madre, watch out!” Sophie yells. I ram my foot on the brake.
In front of us, smack in the middle of the road, is a smallish non-moving turtle.
I drive my car carefully past the turtle and then stop on the side of the narrow two-lane road.
We both get out of the car and approach the black reptile, wondering if it’s alive. But the shell is not damaged, and ever so slowly, we notice a tiny head peek out.
“The turtle is trying to reach the water,” I explain to my granddaughter, as if I’m a fountain of knowledge. “If you’d like, you can pick it up and move it over to the edge of the river.”
Sophie slowly advances toward the seemingly innocuous creature. “Is it safe to pick up?” she asks her all-knowing grandmother.
“Sure!” I say confidently.
As she kneels down toward it, hand outstretched, another car approaches. “Wait!” I shout to her.
But instead of passing us (me raising my arm to make sure the car doesn’t hit the turtle), the automobile stops.
A man and woman step out of their station wagon, which is bouncing with the exuberance of three large dogs inside, wagging their tails and tongues. “Quiet!” the man demands.
The car stops bouncing.
Almost simultaneously, he shouts to Sophie, “Don’t touch that!”
The woman stays by their dog-filled car while the man walks closer to the turtle. “Yup,” he says as if to himself. Then he addresses me. “You trying to help the turtle reach the other side safely?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“Well, don’t touch it with your hands. That’s a snapping turtle. It could take a finger.”
WHAT?
By now, Sophie has scurried behind me.
The man shows me his hand. He has only half a right index finger.
“Aw, it’s only a baby,” the woman shouts from the safety of her position. “Pick it up!”
The man huffs his chest and places his fingers near the shell.
Then he stands up, takes a deep breath. “I don’t wanna lose another finger,” he shouts back.
“It’s only a baby!” she repeats.
The man kneels closer, but then a large pick-up speeds down the street. It passes us, then brakes and stops in the middle of the road.
I read the sign on the side of the truck. Public Works.
Two manly men step out, wearing waders, thick beards, and nervous grins.
“A snapper!” the blonde bearded one says. “Don’t touch it!”
I turn my head toward Sophie, who is sweet enough to not say anything to me.
The other bearded one finds a big stick and asks the turtle to latch onto it so he can move it to the other side of the road.
The turtle has escaped into its shell and will have none of it.
So Mr. Blonde Beard scoots back to the truck and grabs a shovel.
“These things can bite. Hard,” the Public Works man explains as he oh so cautiously moves the shovel under the snapping turtle, which is still tight in its shell, and then carefully de-shovels it onto the side of the river.
I want to hug the man. Worse, I get tears in my eyes.
Here we are – all strangers – stopping in the middle of our busy day to save a turtle.
The six of us just nod to each other with smiles and return to our three vehicles.
Sophie doesn’t say a word until we arrive to her house, where she tells her mom all about saving a turtle.
She doesn’t tell her mom that because of her grandmother, she almost lost a finger or two.
Nice!
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Hi Yashvi. Thanks so much for visiting here!
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YW!
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Ahh, Pam you have me simultaneously laughing and crying! 😀😀 I just love how you all strangers stop to help this little, but not defenceless, turtle! Who knew there were snapping ones??!! Well, obviously quite a few, haha!😀 I would have merrily picked it up, lacking this innate turtle knowledge! Your granddaughter sounds like a real treasure and a real gem for not telling on you…I’m just guessing your daughter reads your blog, though? Is that the phone I hear ringing..hugs ❤️
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Haha, Annika. My daughter does NOT read my blog (thus, I’m free to write about her …and her kids). :-)She’s told me that it’s too freaky for her to read my writing. That she keeps feeling like she’s reading her own mind when she does so. Interesting, huh? So, I think my secret is safe with me…and Sophie, who thankfully, has no tale to tell since she has all 10 digits….
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Oh my! Who would think or know that that tiny little animal could be so ferocious!! Oh thank goodness others stopped to help. That would NOT have been a good day and Not a good grandma memory to have. But what are the odds that the man who stopped had lost a finger to one of ’em!?!
I love people who stop to help animals. At the end of the day luckily what she remembers is the fact that you role modelled kindness.
Peta
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What are the ‘odds,’ as you say, Peta. I love it when circumstances collide and, oddly, the right things happen at the right time. Like the snapping man who’d already been snapped, stopping by at that country road at just the right time. “Someone” was certainly looking out for Sophie, and me, and that sweet little turtle. Kindness Karma! ❤
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So that’s why it’s called a snapping turtle! Lovely story – and nice your granddaughter didn’t tell tales on you 🙂
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I never knew that snapping turtles actually — SNAPPED that hard. I have learned my lesson but luckily not the hard way. All fingers intact from the experience. :-0
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What a great story. I love when people come together like this. And so glad no one lost a finger! BTW, this line was so funny: “as if I’m a fountain of knowledge.” We all like to think we are, don’t we? 😄
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As mothers and grandmothers, we particularly like to think (and want our children and grandchildren to think) we KNOW ALL. Well, my little Sophie now knows better. ;-0
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Pam, I just love your sun-shine story. How can we not smile and feel warm inside hearing how six people work in harmony to save the life of a little turtle.
Shows the goodness that is in our world. Now, as to your precious grand daughter…well, the right people arrived just on time.😊 .
Thank you for sharing this
miriam
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When our turtle adventure happened, and all during this rather ‘unkind’ time around our country, I figured I needed to share and show that most of us just want to be kind….even to a little turtle trying to cross the road. xo
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I’m happy to hear everyone still has all ten digits. Great story, Pam! xo
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And we’re hoping that this IS a happy-ever-after story, with Ms. Turtle swimming along with her friends in that NE river…. ❤
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Yes I can hardly believe this story. Such a time thing. Louise
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I call this “Karma Timing,” Louise. It all happened exactly as I wrote here. “Someone” was certainly looking out for us, and for Sophie’s fingers!!!
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Great story! I would not have known either. I love how your granddaughter only told about saving a turtle. Kids are great, aren’t they? Happy traveling!
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Kids are KIND, particularly when they’re just grateful they didn’t lose a finger or two. 🙂
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Your granddaughter is an angel. With her diplomacy, she’ll go far 🙂
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Good point! 🙂
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I love how all of you–total strangers–had the same mission, to save this turtle. Fortunately, some had a bit of knowledge about the turtles, too. 😉 This could be a parable for our times.
Your granddaughter sounds like a wonderful person–compassionate and wise.
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I wanted to share this experience as a type of parable about what most of us in our country/world are like. We’re kind, compassionate, and care about all beings, big and small. ❤
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❤
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I have never heard of a snapping turtle before, but how lovely that all of you wanted to rescue him 🙂
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Snapping turtles are mostly known in the east coast of the U.S. and Canada, and they are at risk because their numbers are declining (habitat degradation is a big reason – it takes them up to 20 years to mature and they keep trying to cross the road in front of cars/trucks!). Thus, we must help them out. 🙂
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It is a shame that their numbers are declining, and worse that they take such risks!
Luckily for them, there are some kind people around to help the out. 🙂
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How weird is that? – the man who stops to warn you actually lost a finger to a snapping turtle!!! If I read that in a book, I’d be rolling my eyes at the implausible coincidence. What a great story and I love your take from the encounter – all these strangers stopping to rescue a turtle. And your granddaughter didn’t rat you out! Good girl. Ha ha 🙂
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Love your eye-rolling comment, Diana. I know, we can’t write ‘real life’ stuff in some of our fiction or readers will say, ‘no way.’ But yes, WAY. The timing was incredible (and I thank the powers-that-be for the timely intervention). Phew.
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Yes. I always worry that Tornado Boy will get hurt on one of our adventures and I’ll have to look my daughter in the eye and explain. Not good! 😀
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😬😜
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You’re back, yay, hope you had a nice vacation!
Great story, Grandma/granddaughter secrets are the best. My girls and I have lots of them!
Hope you have a wonderful eeekend.
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I can tell you have so much fun with your grandgirls, Sharon. Tell them to always be careful about any turtles they come across and to use thick gloves or a stick to help the turtle across the street! 🙂
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Living where I do, it’s not uncommon to see turtles trying to cross the road in the summertime, and thankfully, it’s also not uncommon to see cars stopped along the side of the road to help them. But I wouldn’t recognize a snapping turtle if I saw one, so your visual might come in very handy!
You have a wonderful granddaughter! I’m sure she’ll remember this little adventure for a very long time.
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I (obviously) never knew the difference between a ‘turtle’ and a ‘snapping turtle’ either. The half-a-finger man told me you can tell by the straight black tail. I imagine he was so fast to stop and help us out because of his own misfortune. ;-0
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Straight black tail. I will have to remember that. He probably wanted to make sure Sophie didn’t suffer the same fate!
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🐢💚
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What a story. Now I will be sure to carry a portable shovel in the car. So glad your sweet granddaughter came out unscathed as well as the turtle.
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Well, aren’t you kind to keep a shovel in case of snapping-turtle-crossing! Those Public Work men were so careful with that shovel, too. I wanted to shout, “GENTLE!” but no need. They treated the creature like the baby it was. ❤
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OH my gosh, what a story! Your dear granddaughter is going to remember this one! Yay on not losing a finger, but I have a feeling she will hold that in her memory bank for when it may come in handy to fire back at you. LOL!
Love how everyone stopped to help the turtle. More evidence that there are kindhearted people in this world, thanks so much for sharing!
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Considering how quickly these people stopped during our plight, I was reminded that MOST of us are kind and caring. I needed that reminder, and I also wanted to pass it on to my readers. Most of us humans LOVE all beings great and small.
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You are very right!! Just the reminder that was needed this past week!!
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💚👍💚
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Another great story and your granddaughter is a sweetheart for not telling. I love getting to close to turtles in Hawaii, should I be afraid?
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I don’t think so, Gerlinde. I also love watching the huge turtles in Hawaii as they swim in the water as well as when they gulump onto the beach (I made up that word, but that’s what they look like). I don’t think they could move fast enough to bite! :-0
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Oops , I mean getting close …..
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Glad that your granddaughter’s digits are all still present and accounted for.
You might get a kick out of this:
https://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/the-snapping-turtles-lament/
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Thanks for sharing your ‘turtle crossing’ story, Nancy. Fantastic!
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But she didn’t lose her fingers… And that car and then those other two arriving shows you just how watched over you both were.. You were not to know that.. And so please do not blame yourself for something that Might have happened.. Though I know I would be feeling exactly the same as you had it been my granddaughter..
I had not heard of these turtles before.. But then I do live in the UK,,
Wishing you and your granddaughter many more uneventful adventures together 😀
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I think the ‘synchronicity’ of these events is quite profound, Sue, I agree. Sophie and I came upon that crossing turtle when no other car/person was around. We stopped, and suddenly, the first two cars that drove through the lonely country road are just the people who need to be there …. to help the turtle, and to help Sophie and me. How wonderful is that? xoxo
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Yes I agree… I love it when these things happen, showing us how our lives are entwined and connected, just when we need it 🙂
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And I think the intertwining happens more often than we realize. I’m working at noticing more. This event was quite a noticeable one, since no fingers got snapped, thank goodness!!
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Yes thank goodness 🙂
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Saw one in our yard recently – had no idea it was a snapping turtle until someone told me. Glad all digits are intact!
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Perhaps I should share this post as a “PSA” – Public Service Announcement. 🙂 Snapping turtles need to get across the road – but we need to keep our fingers! xo
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Love your miracle story! Your granddaughter is special for not blurting “the truth “. Love Jeanette
Sent from my iPad
>
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We teach our children and grandchildren to always tell the truth. But perhaps another good lesson is when to keep mouths shut. Ha ha. xoxox
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This is, as always, a story from you woven in love–thx, mr. turtle 🐢
for helping to snap our attention!!!
Xoxo
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What a snappy remark, Pat! XO 😂
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Nice! I am pleased to hear such benevolence is alive around us! 🙂 Loved the way you have narrated this memorable incident.
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Thanks so much for enjoying my turtle-crossing-the-street story, Balroop! 🐢💚
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I absolutely love this story, Pam! Thanks so much for sharing it. 🙂
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And of course you drawl beautiful pictures of turtles. I’m so glad you read my story and thank you for sharing it! 🐢
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Oh thank you! I appreciate you taking time to look at them. I have a few more on the way soon. And you’re welcome; it was my pleasure to share your story. Something like that happened to us one day, but fortunately it was a Western Pond Turtle. I think it just pulled its head in when I picked it up.
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Thank goodness!!!
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🙂
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Reblogged this on Patsy's Creative Corner and commented:
This is a great story! I laughed and…cried…happy tears.
Have a wonderful day, and give someone you love a big hug! 🙂
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Good one, Pam! Still chuckling.
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I wonder if you see many turtles up in your part of the world, Anneli. 💚
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Not so many on the coast, but they have them in the interior of BC. I really like turtles (but maybe I wouldn’t be so quick to pick one up now that I know about finger-snapping turtles).
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Yes- next time look but don’t touch!! 😬
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What a great story. Wise Sophie to keep your secret! But, her mother probably saw your post.
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My daughter, Sophie’s mother, usually does not read my blog. She says it seems weird to her because when she reads it she feels as if she is reading her own mind. 🤔 So I think my secret with Sophie is safe!
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So glad to know I am not the only one who has stopped on a road (more than once) to help a turtle reach the other side of the road! 😙 Great story about awesome humans doung awesome things!
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Thanks Courtney-you make me feel good about sharing the story about awesome people. Do you have very many snapping turtles in your state? 🐢💚
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Texas has a high population of Snapping turtles and an endangered breed called an Alligator snapping turtle. Here is an interesting article about them! 😊
https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2014/04/29/is-the-increasingly-rare-alligator-snapping-turtle-next-on-endangered-list/
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Wow! Thanks for sharing. We need to treat these shelled creatures kindly.
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You can tell a tale well.
We have snapping turtles here, too. (You can scoop with a shovel, but never with a hand…even cardboard is iffy)
Nature has some rough lessons – glad all managed to get through un-chomped!
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Wow-good to know, even cardboard isn’t safe to transport a snapping turtle.!! I shudder when I think of what could’ve happened if my little granddaughter had tried to move that innocent looking creature. 😦
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Lovely story, Pamela
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Many thanks for enjoying my turtle (true!) tale!
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I am very familiar with snapping turtles so I loved it.
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And hopefully you still have all fingers and thumbs…. ;-0
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All in place. 😀
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Both thumbs up!
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Sounds like something I would have done….pick up the turtle and lose a finger! Glad it all worked out…for the turtle too.
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Glad you read my post here and now will never lose a finger! 💚
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Ha! Hopefully, she won’t tell her mom later, when you least expect it. But it’s sweet that she saw so many adults trying to help that little critter. That’s awesome.
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A great lesson on how to treat all of nature’s beings, great and small. 💚
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Bravo to the Public Works guy and brava to you for telling the story, Pam!
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You just gave me an idea. I think I should send this story to the local town paper so residents can see how great their public works department is!
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Pingback: SNAP Chat–roughwighting: | By the Mighty Mumford
What a gorgeous story, Pam. Sophie is obviously named appropriately – full of wisdom. Must take after her grandmother. Usually. 🙂
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I try to be a role model, but most times we just laugh, eat the cookie dough we make, and then she beats me in cards. 😏
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Having fun together must be the best of role models. What is life but to enjoy!
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You couldn’t make up that situation. Thanks for sharing another instance showing the GOODNESS of people.
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You are so right! Truth is stranger than fiction, and the incredible oddness of truth can give us all hope for this crazy world! XO
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Great story! As usual, I was on the edge of my seat!
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Life does that too us – swings us around with twists and turns (much like the country road I was on). I think we all live on the edge of our seats! 🙂
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A lesson learned the almost hard way is never forgotten. It will probably remain a well kept secret between you and your granddaughter until years later and then while at a family gathering she might possibly tell the real tale of the snapping turtle. Even though she is a still a child, I think she has great respect and allegiance to you. It has to be a wonderful feeling to have those lovely and advanced grandchildren.
I reckon that you learned about snapping turtles that day. I once read that one should learn something new every day even if it seems meaningless. I hope I am not repeating the same mantra that I have written on someone’s blog in the past.
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You are so right! We need to learn from our ‘almost mistakes’ and pass on the lesson. I researched about snapping turtles after our incident, and then told Sophie what I learned. We decided to tell her mom about it all, so EVERYONE in the family knows about snapping turtles. 🙂
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Pamela that was the best idea yet. You were smart to tell the family about snapping turtles. We have those here too but I don’t swim in farm ponds or creeks and I never tried to pick one up since my dad taught me to respect wildlife. Growing up on a farm, I suppose have its advantages in some ways.
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Your granddaughter has remarkable restraint…and a lovely bond with her grandmother!
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She thinks I’m a ‘kick,’ and I love kicking around with her. 🙂
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A close escape 🙂 But I’m glad to know that you and those other people taught her that it’s worth taking the time to help out another creature!
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Yes, thanks Andrea. Kindness to all creatures, big and small, is a lesson we all can remember and emphasize. And how amazing it was, to see those big burly men rescue that baby turtle. Oh, shoot, getting teary-eyed again.
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Great story! A snapper turtle is outside my experience but once I slammed a car door on my 5-year-old grand daughter’s fingers. Soft young bones, they bent instead of breaking, thank heavens. Off topic: Pamela, was it you who wrote a great post about the way people don’t write reviews? Every second sentence was “write me a review!” (roughly) and I’ve been wanting to republish this one.
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Oh noooooo, can’t even fathom how horrified you must have been right after slamming that car door. Well, yes, I CAN imagine, and I feel for you. Thank goodness your granddaughter’s hand was still softly flexible. Phew.
Many thanks for remembering my post about promoting our books and asking (begging?) for reviews. Here’s the link: https://roughwighting.net/2017/05/26/pimping-the-product/.
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Just reading your words brings it all back. I rushed to the chemist for arnica cream and did a lot of rubbing after realizing nothing was broken, not even skin. And the guilt! I am thrilled to have the url for your reviews post, thank you.
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👌💗
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Those sweet little creatures — who would think, right? Glad your granddaughter didn’t get hurt.
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Sweet is deceiving. On the other hand, the poor things have to defend themselves SOMEhow. ;-0
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Oh no, Pam! That was a close shave. I’m glad the turtle was saved (and some fingers as well!) xxxx
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Still counting my blessings (and my granddaughter’s fingers) on this one. ;-0
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Great story Pam. Glad everyone’s fingers are intact! 🙂
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Thanks Debby. This is one of those “PHEWWWW!” 🙂
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🙂 🙂
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Great adventure! 🙂 xo
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Thanks Bette. Thankfully an adventure with a happy ending for human AND turtle.
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I **LOVE** love, love this story… And I totally want to jump up and down and celebrate all of the care and attention this small wonderful monster received:).
Fabulous story Pam! Sophie must go home with a world of stories to tell of your adventures together:)
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I love your description of the “small wonderful monster.” He he. Ms. Turtle got quite a lot of attention, and yet we all went away from her feeling good. xo
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This is adorable Pam, what a lovely story. I too am moved, though not surprised, by the tenderness and openness of strangers when it comes to helping wild animals. Wonderful, in a world as volatile as ours right now, that such moments of kindness and connection between strangers still happen…and that sweet souls like you make a point of noticing them. Blessings, Harula x
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I believe we need to share our stories of ‘tenderness and openness of strangers’ to shout over the other ‘junk’ out there. ❤
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You’re so right Pam, let’s shout out the love and smile out the joy and sing out the connection until the ‘junk’ can no longer be heard, building a bridge we can lean over from to lift others up out of the ‘junk’ too… 🙂
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Oh wow you brought that scene to life with your writing, Pam! I am glad she still has all of her fingers (and thumbs) 🙂
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Me too Christy, me too. This could have been a darker story if the kindness of strangers hadn’t occurred. ;-0
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what a nice story this is. You saved the turtle that bites fingers! I have never heard of turtles that does it, but I am glad I have learned about this one. Thank you for posting.
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Lots of snapping turtles out there, as well as snapping people. We just need to know how to approach them. ;-0
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poor little creature! So happy she was saved!
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Another reason to be very cautious of nature – noted. How lovely that so many people cared about a creature of nature.
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Nature (and her creatures) defends herself. We just need to be aware and respectful. And kind – always kind to Mother Nature and her children. xo
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Ouch!!! That was close!! Can’t help but feel this is like an episode of Doctor Who, where the strange object in the middle of the road turned out to be an alien that needed helping with great caution… all turned out okay in the end! Goodness, I’ve never heard of such creatures… not snapping ones anyway. What adventures you have Pamela!! Oh yes, and how lucky you were to come across those who knew… so timely! 🙂
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