Scribbling

The turtle had paused when I first noticed some movement in my peripheral vision from my window perch beside my computer and turned to investigate what had distracted me. While my vantage point was nearly five feet above and six or eight feet from the plodding reptile, it appeared to be aware of me as I peered down at it to get a clearer view. Zeno, a name I might aptly bestow upon this box turtle(Terrapene carolina), especially one, which may very well have been the same turtle I have seen on previous occasions at various locations around our property over the years. Box turtles usually remain within the bounds of their territory generally an area with a radius of 250 yards or less; they also are noted for their longevity and may live 100 years. So it is possible that much of Zeno’s history coincides with mine.Unable to quell my curiosity, I snatched up my camera, darted outside, and endeavored to be as stealthy as we clumsy humans can be to record a closer look at Zeno. After several photos I thought it best to let this creature get on with its journey wherever that might lead. I had a notion that Zeno was probably racing toward my garden some 120 feet away. When our children were young they’d delight in finding turtles feasting on low-growing tomatoes; it was an insignificant expense for the lessons that they learned, although there are others purchased at a price far beyond our imagination. We’ve been in the thrall of drought in this area for so long that the turtle was welcome to any pleasure it might find in the remaining fruit not yet cooked by the sun.Later I wondered about the turtle’s progress. Just how far had the creature travelled? Willing to fill in for swift Achilles I set off to find the turtle, which by my reckoning now had a fifteen minute head start. Indeed old Zeno had traversed a prodigious 10 feet. I took a few more photos before I had to go off on an errand. When I returned about 45 minutes later I spied a familiar form as I entered the house now resting at the edge of the prostrate vines of my roma tomatoes entangled in a row of okra.After a few minutes of working at my computer I decided to make one last check on the turtle. Zeno was no where to be seen. The sun had come out from the early morning cloud cover and the thirsty garden offered precious little shade. The persistent turtle had bested a swifter runner again. Some infinities are summable and a few turtles are just more elusive than others, at least for a while.