Friday, August 08, 2008

Good-byes: Part One

There has been a whirlwind of activities at our house with packing up things ourselves, getting things ready for the movers, cleaning the house, cancelling services, starting services, and all of those little tasks that must be completed.

In the middle of all the chaos there have been some sweet surprises.

One morning, we spent a few moments on our dock by the pond. We do this quite often, nearly every day in the summer. Since we moved in last summer, we've fed the turtles and the fish. In fact, I think we may be their primary source of Bunny bread.

Sometimes we see only fish. Sometimes we just catch a glimpse of one turtle's head in the brackish water. Many mornings the turtles circle around at a distance, popping up their heads to observe us, but never swimming close enough for us to see them.

On this particular morning, as soon as we stepped on the dock, the fish swirled beneath us, just as they always do. Then we saw a turtle, then another, and another. Pretty soon, there were five turtles swimming and diving and waiting for their treat. Within a few minutes, a turtle we've never seen before, in the entire year we've lived here, swam up to our dock.

At first he wasn't sure he could trust us. He's probably experienced the feeling of a hook in the middle of bits of bread before. As the other turtles nibbled, this new friend peered up at us beneath the water's surface, investigating our motives.

Eventually, he trusted us or found the yeasty smell of Bunny bread too tempting, and he took a bite. Still, he never popped his head above the water so we could see him clearly. He stayed just below, in the comfortable, safe surroundings of the pond.

Just like all of the other turtles, he received a name, Leather. And he joined with Mossy, Rocky, Buddy, and the little guy we just call Little Guy to tell us goodbye, as we leave our pond hoping to return to them one day.

With a full loaf of Bunny bread.

5 comments:

Susanne said...

Aww, that is sweet!

PJ said...

Bunny bread!!! It was a staple when I grew up -- in the South. Up here -- Chicagoland -- Bunny bread is nowhere to be found. I actually thought it had ceased to be. Just think, there is still Bunny Bread in the world -- I've had a epiphany!!

Hope all goes well with this move!!

Blessings

Rocks In My Dryer said...

Praying for you.

What happened to your template?

FabTheMayor said...

OK...let me get this straight. You're in the midst of a move for the SECOND time in one year?? I would have a permanent new address - the Funny Farm! Good luck with your new venture!

Roxanne said...

I'm so glad the gang came to say goodbye. I love feeding turtles.