They say that turtles carry their homes on their backs,
moving through the world at a pace that refuses to be rushed. I’ve always felt
a deep connection to that. For twenty-five years, I shared my life with a
desert tortoise. A quarter-century of slow, steady companionship. When I
eventually had to give him away, that love for tortoises and turtles stayed
with me.
Years ago, while visiting my mom in Hannibal, Missouri, I
found a beautiful turtle ring. It was the perfect souvenir…a tiny, silver
reminder of my roots, my mom, and the tortoise I’d loved for so long.
But then, life got a little complicated.
Two years ago, I traveled to Kalamazoo, Michigan. I was
visiting a friend…someone I thought at the time might be a soulmate. It was one
of those "Person of Interest" chapters where you’re trying to see if
the pieces fit.
As it turns out, the romantic spark didn't catch, though we
remained friends. But as I flew back home from that trip, I realized with a
heavy heart that my turtle ring was gone. I searched everywhere. I checked
every bag, and specifically, the pockets of the coat I had worn.
Nothing. The turtle had vanished.
I’ve realized now that turtles don't just move slowly…they
also know when to go into their shells.
For two years, that ring stayed hidden. During those two
years, I went through a long, sometimes difficult journey. I navigated the
aftermath of that trip, I grew, I changed, and eventually, I found my way into
a stable, wonderful relationship with a man who truly sees me.
And then, a couple weeks ago the turtle ring came back to
me.
I reached into the pocket of that same coat…the one I had
checked a dozen times before and there it was. My turtle had finally come out
of its shell.
Why Now?
It’s ironic, isn't it? I spent two years wondering where it
went, only for it to reappear right when my life is at its most peaceful. Even
more incredible? I’m going back to see my mom this year.
Finding this ring feels like the universe's way of telling
me that the "long journey" is over. The ring didn't want to be found
while I was heart-sore or searching for the wrong things. It waited until I was
grounded, happy, and ready to return to where it all began.
Sometimes, we lose things so they can be returned to us
when we’re finally ready to appreciate them again. My traveling turtle is back,
and just like me, it’s exactly where it’s supposed to be.