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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Think Out Loud: Turtle




This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.


So, I’m at the beach pacing the shore and hearing the waves. The sky is clouded and its dark grey color reflects in the water. I pull my coat tighter on my body since the wind is picking up and drops of water fall on the wet sand.

Few steps before I decide to make my way back to the car, I see it.

It’s small, dark-green, almost black, and it’s moving slowly on the sand, disoriented. I stay amazed looking at the newborn turtle not believing that it’s alive this time of year. It fight its way to the shore but this is the wrong direction. It needs to go toward the sea, to swim away or the cold night will kill it. I kneel over it, trying to decide what to do. I can’t put it in the water because this is its exercise. Its tiny muscles will not be strong enough to swim if I just toss it in the water.

Half an hour passes and it still tries to find the way to the sea. I turn it to the right direction and watch it fight with the sand, falling in the holes that are created from the footsteps. I notice horse’s traces and I realize how lucky this little turtle had been. Despite the cold, the wind and the horses that crossed the beach, here it is, fighting for its life.

The rain is heavier now and my clothes are soaked. I pick it up in my hands and move it closer to the water. The moment I put it down it freezes, not moving for a minute and then it rises its head and start moving, determined to get in the water. More time passes by and the turtle is till on shore, but I don’t find it in my heart to leave it there.

When the turtle starts walking again I smile. This time I know it’s gonna make it. A few feet away and the water will take it away. And it does. The water surround it and I watch it travel away.


I pull my coat over my head and I start running back to the car. 

8 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, I just love this, Athina! I have never experienced anything like that. I was leaning close to my computer as I read this, the agony of letting the little guy make his way to the water, the cold that had you bundled up, the dark sky and water. Thank you for taking me to that beach and the baby turtle! I hope you have a great weekend.

    Happy flying!!!

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    1. It was truly amazing, Robyn. I'm so glad I went to that beach that evening.
      Have a great weekend and a greater month!
      Happy swimming!

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  2. Hey Athina! I nominated you for the Liebster Award! Congratulations! You can check out my post here : http://bringontheink.blogspot.com/2014/11/three-birds-with-one-stone.html

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    1. Hey Erfa, thanks for the nomination! Have a great month!

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  3. How awesome that you got to see that! I bet it was pretty emotional both hoping the little turtle would get there safely and also thinking about all it had to endure already to reach this point. Thanks so much for sharing! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. It's already one of those unforgettable memories. Thanks for stopping by, Jaclyn. :)

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  4. That's a great memory, reading that was difficult. We have a poaching problem where I'm from and it's nice to see somebody who cares and knows not to pick them up or throw em in the water.

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    1. It is indeed. I was really shocked to see a newborn that time of year! I hope it survived!
      I'm sorry to hear about the poaching problem. It's terrible! Those people are terrible!

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