Finally Sticking My Neck Out
Posted by Susan Ely at 9/4/2007 12:17 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
I didn't start out to have a turtle collection. After my mother passed away, my friend Janie found out that turtles are my personal life metaphor and she gave me a bleached-out white turtle shell she'd found by the side of the road, along with a note, that read:
Thinking how beautiful it was when I found it, filled with an inch of rainwater, a tiny eco-system in the middle of nowhere, water...I heard, "I want you to give this to Susan and tell her, 'you are not forgotten, though you feel empty, you still give, and I will bring you to a place you culd never bring yourself, as a gift, giving in your gifting.'"
Wow.
Then, at the flea market, I found the turtle shell with the missing scutes, pictured above. "Perfect," I thought to myself. "He's just like me; not quite all there."
After that it just sort of got out of control and now my office looks like an arribada, a mass nesting phenomenon of thousand of sea turtles. I try and stay away from cheesy, kitschy turtles, but certain members of my family seem to think it's necessary for me to own things like a pair of giant, fuzzy turtle slippers. The problem with having a collection is that people think their gift giving problems are over. So there they sit, alongside my hand-carved turtles, jade turtles, a brass turtle door stopper, a turtle trivet, a ceramic white "snow turtle" (more on that in another post) and many, many more. You might say I suffer from "Turtleitis," but it's not a disease, it's more a condition of the soul.
Turtles remind me of where I've come from and where I'm going. Maybe I haven't come all that far, but I'm slow like the turtle so it's taken me quite a while to get here. There's a well-known, out-of-print motivational book called "Rhinoceros Success" that a friend of mine once gave me to read. I hated it. It was all about "CHARGING!" through life, very aggressive, very "not me." I handed it back to her and said "I'm not a rhinoceros; I'm a turtle." That's when I began to learn more about turtles and realized how much we have in common. My "turtle thing" is all about the journey of leaving the safety and security of my shell.
So now I write about that journey and do public speaking on the subject whenever I get the chance. I chose the title Turtlemuse, because the word muse is both a noun and a verb. Turtles inspire my creative and spiritual life and I spend a lot of time studying and contemplating the wonder of all things turtle. I hope you'll check back often and join me on the journey. You'll find "musings" and poems, stories and essays, both serious and humorous. Hopefully, you'll share your thoughts as well.
"Reality is a fence with many holes, a net with many tears. I walk through them slowly. My slowness is deceptively fast." Verlyn Klinkenborg~ Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
Thinking how beautiful it was when I found it, filled with an inch of rainwater, a tiny eco-system in the middle of nowhere, water...I heard, "I want you to give this to Susan and tell her, 'you are not forgotten, though you feel empty, you still give, and I will bring you to a place you culd never bring yourself, as a gift, giving in your gifting.'"
Wow.
Then, at the flea market, I found the turtle shell with the missing scutes, pictured above. "Perfect," I thought to myself. "He's just like me; not quite all there."
After that it just sort of got out of control and now my office looks like an arribada, a mass nesting phenomenon of thousand of sea turtles. I try and stay away from cheesy, kitschy turtles, but certain members of my family seem to think it's necessary for me to own things like a pair of giant, fuzzy turtle slippers. The problem with having a collection is that people think their gift giving problems are over. So there they sit, alongside my hand-carved turtles, jade turtles, a brass turtle door stopper, a turtle trivet, a ceramic white "snow turtle" (more on that in another post) and many, many more. You might say I suffer from "Turtleitis," but it's not a disease, it's more a condition of the soul.
Turtles remind me of where I've come from and where I'm going. Maybe I haven't come all that far, but I'm slow like the turtle so it's taken me quite a while to get here. There's a well-known, out-of-print motivational book called "Rhinoceros Success" that a friend of mine once gave me to read. I hated it. It was all about "CHARGING!" through life, very aggressive, very "not me." I handed it back to her and said "I'm not a rhinoceros; I'm a turtle." That's when I began to learn more about turtles and realized how much we have in common. My "turtle thing" is all about the journey of leaving the safety and security of my shell.
So now I write about that journey and do public speaking on the subject whenever I get the chance. I chose the title Turtlemuse, because the word muse is both a noun and a verb. Turtles inspire my creative and spiritual life and I spend a lot of time studying and contemplating the wonder of all things turtle. I hope you'll check back often and join me on the journey. You'll find "musings" and poems, stories and essays, both serious and humorous. Hopefully, you'll share your thoughts as well.
"Reality is a fence with many holes, a net with many tears. I walk through them slowly. My slowness is deceptively fast." Verlyn Klinkenborg~ Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
Wow- I can relate- I want to stay in the safety of my shell but something deep within keeps calling me to stick out my neck and I know I won't make any progress until I do. I am taken by the character of the shell and the protection it provides and the visible reminders of that protection. Thanks for sharing your journey.
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Loved your opening blog. I too used to collect turtles - live ones. I was much younger but found them quite remarkable. After a few days of hand feeding, they actually recognized my coming and would greet me at the edge of their container almost wagging their tails. I've since given up that hobby for one my wife actually started for me - collecting crystal paper weights. You know the fascinating (and often expensive) clear glass globes with interesting things inside to look at whimsically? Well I got one hoping others too would think their present giving dilemma were over as well. To date, alas, I've seen but the one. Hmmm(throat clearing)
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Hi. I'm a lion. I like you.
Roar.
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What a wonderful blog. With the recent adoption of our 3 year old daughter, I am moving towards slowing down, to her speed. And if you know 3 yr olds moving is at warp speed. Slowing down enough to enjoy the sunshine, the shoreline at the lake and the bubbles she blows. You have been an inspiration to me in the past, I look forward to reading your future blogs. Love you, Linda
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Susan, thanks for sending me the link. I think what you have may be turtlerrea, actually. Sounds like a good syndrome to me. Looking forward to your next musing.
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Susan, You are an awesome writer!!! If I had your talent in writing I could really sell alot of real estate just on the listing remarks. I never looked at you as a turtle but I can think of alot worse things to be. I love & miss you-Barbara
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Hello, dear Susan,
How delightful to read your turtle essay! If only we could see ourselves as others see us! Turtles bring to my mind a pokey old soul like the one pictured who did not survive his/her shell. I think of you more as a galloping gazelle, leaping forward in your career as a writer at dizzying speed. You amaze me. I am so proud of you! Love, Carolyn
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so...tell me some more
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