Meet William Henry Richard Turtle the Third, more commonly known by yours truly as, Lil’ Dude. 
When we went to the Roots and Heritage Festival this Sunday, there was gentleman selling turtles hatchlings for $15 and The Husband bought me one! Yes, I squeed!
As most of you know, I have a deep love for all things of the turtle nature, whether true turtle or terrapin, I love them because they are slow, determined creatures and prove to me God has a sense of humor because he made “walking rocks”. When I was younger I had pet terrapins and would keep them all summer and then, at the beginning of September we would let them go so they could hibernate. One terrapin stayed around my house for years. His shell, scarred from years of life and my dogs, Fread was a fixture and always stayed somewhere near the house and would take strawberries and other treats from my hand.
I guess, if I ever truly had a totem animal it would be a turtle. They are truly fragile creatures: Everything must be “just so” in order for them to live. Like me. But, when their physical needs are met they are strong, determined, sometimes headstrong animals that will close up in their shells and then tip themselves off a cliff to get down the side of a mountain. Yeah, this sounds very familiar to me because I have closed up in my shell and went head-first into things I probably shouldn’t have and come out OK, much to my surprise as well as my family’s – except for my Dad. Daddy seemed to know me a lot better than I knew myself back then.
Today The Husband is off helping his dad and picking me up a few things I need for my Lil’ Dude – and yes, it is a male (I checked) – especially a full spectrum light bulb. He needs this now more than anything, and a larger, glass enclosure. Already I have plans for his terrarium and habitat.
