“Second Glance”
Not a tire in the
road, but a turtle striking
out on adventure.

If you’ve ever dodged a turtle on the highway, I think you’ll recognize this scene.

Normally, I can distinguish turtles’ distinct profile from a distance with the curve of their shell and the little neck arched out. This particular time, though, I was passing on an interstate and didn’t see the turtle until I was about to change lanes again. I knew there was a dark rounded object in the road, thought it might be a tire, and knew either way I didn’t want to hit it and find out the hard way that I was right or wrong, so I waited to switch lanes. As I passed the object, I glanced out my window and looked right at a turtle with its head up and one front leg raised mid-step. Time seemed to freeze the frame for a millisecond before the plucky little adventurer was behind me.

I was relieved to see in my rearview mirror that the truck I had passed didn’t hit the turtle either. I hope the little adventurer made it across the other three lanes and median with as much success. Turtles amuse and inspire me any time I spot them on their inscrutable missions.