Testudo: (Latin) Tortoise

I have always wanted a tortoise.  Well, maybe not always…but I have somehow always been drawn to shelled reptiles.  Over the years I have had numerous turtles.  The current one being Sir Limps-a-Lot, an Eastern Painted Turtle missing one front foot.  I don’t know why, but I am infatuated with them.  And fascinated by their subtle, yet quirky personalities.

When I was in college, for some reason, I became determined to have a tortoise.  It was actually what I intended to be my graduation present to myself.  I researched them, and picked a type of tortoise: Russian.  They were small, adaptable, and claimed to be the best and most hearty tortoise for those with limited experience.  They were also noted to be more active, and even friendly with regular handling.  I researched everything—proper care, diet, habitat.  I even had a name in mind.  Dumbledore if it was a boy, McGonagall if it was a girl.  I wanted a tortoise.  Then graduation came, and went.  Life set it.  I never felt like I was in an easy place to get a tortoise.  Nor in a sable enough place in life to provide what they needed.  A dog is easily adaptable.  You have to create an environment adapted to meet a torts needs.  And, they were not easily accessible in my area.  A few pet stores sold Red Footed tortoises….but no Russians.  I buried my desire….saying someday…just not today.  Though, I still stood longingly admiring the Red Foots that occasionally hung out at our local Petco, and texted JR with pictures of them, making him worry about what else I was going to bring home with live with us.

Then…..I found an ad for a guy looking for someone to take his two Russians.  I was moving, and could no longer care for them.  I saw the ad….and ignored it.  I cycled back a week later….still there.  I mentioned it to JR, who hesitated about me brining yet another pet home.  Later that day he told me to email the guy and ask.  Two weeks later.  I have Russian Tortoises.  Two of them.  Dumbledore and McGonagall.  Now...jsut to talk JR into building me a tortoise table! :)