It's Hard To Say Goodbye!

As I pulled into the driveway one day last week, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid what first appeared to be a large rock. It was, in fact, a large turtle, well, large to us. I ran to the house to get the kids, who were all excited, but it was Carter's eyes that lit up the brightest. He was in love!! It wasn't long before I realized that letting it go wouldn't be as easy as walking away. The next thing I knew, the turtle was on our back deck, and Carter's eyes were full of tears that he was fighting back, as he struggled with watching it go. He convinced me to let him keep it for one night in a small aquarium. I worried and worried with how to help him let it go, then I got the idea to let his write his name and draw a picture of himself and the turtle on its shell. It's not so cruel, really :). It made Carter feel like it would always be his, and the turtle was no worse for it...he was just happy to be crawling away. So, if anyone out there ever happens upon a turtle with a very strange looking shell, well....just let it go. Carter will be waiting for it to find its way back home!