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November 17, 2021

“Stack Your Turtles” discusses the relevant power of networking through challenges.

While surfing the internet, not long ago, I encountered another picture that made my cute radar system go “ping.” This image right here.

A body of water. And a stack o’ turtles.

No, I’ve never owned a turtle. But the stacking concept? Oh, yeah. That’s in my day-to-day BIG TIME!

The Pandemic.

My hubby and I have relocated within the past two years, yes, during the best possible time to do so: Covid-19. There was just nothing like the smell of a U-Haul and the looming fear of death and ventilators to get one going for an adventurous upheaval. But Hubby Turtle and I did just that.

Long upheaval story short: we moved to a place where we knew no one…in a socially distanced time of no touchy, no “get to know ya.” Because, you know, looming fear of death and ventilators.

Anyway, after quarantining the required number of weeks, unpacking way too much stuff to meet the criteria for minimalism in our new pad, Hubby Turtle and I met Next-Door Neighbor Turtle. He’s a kind, giving, Italian, killer pasta sauce-making turtle who immediately offered to welcome us with lunch. He became our first friend in the strange new land.

Turtling in the Time of Covid…

So much has gotten lost during this time of the pandemic. Eating with other people was akin to a biohazard, necessitating a Hazmat suit. At least that’s how it felt to me.

But sharing a meal is a simple thing that reminds us we are human beings trying to walk each other home, to quote Ram Dass.

It’s incredibly healing to “break that bread” with another fellow turtle. There are many journeys we take, often occurring within the span of each day. As we cross our current journey du jour, like these stacked turtles, how about if we find a way, some way, to eat together?

I find it has nourished more that the turtle body, but the turtle mind and soul, as well.

The high cost of living, A/K/A, “Getting around” challenges.

Have you stuck your head out of your shell and looked around lately? It’s expensive out there.

Not surprisingly, turtle stacking can come in handy. Also known as “networking,” “sharing resources,” and perhaps, experiencing some kind of ashram or commune.

Anyway, that’s what we three turtles have been doing lately. It doesn’t look like Haight Asbury in the 1960s, and there are no love beads involved. But what began out of necessity, has turned into joy and camaraderie.

Who would have thunk it, huh?

It’s cliché. But that’s what basic tenets of humanity often are.

When Hubby Turtle and I first moved here, we had no car. We struggled with our cart, freshly ordered from Amazon, getting what we could within our neighborhood. We rode buses, rented cars, ordered in supplies, and tried to be car-less as best as we could. It was not entirely pretty. Hubby Turtle and I soon discovered how much a car helps.

Transpo. Who’s groaning with me?

Anyway, as I’m sure you can guess, Neighbor Turtle has a car. And yes, many trips were made, helping us out IN that car. And let’s face it, a vehicle helps tremendously when you are lugging a twenty-pound container of cat litter and some canned goods.

Oh, did I mention we three turtles also live in a three-story walkup? No elevator. Just stairs. A half a dozen mini-landings worth of stairs.

So, we get our exercise without the car-less lugging, thank you very much.

Anyway, as Hubby Turtle and I compensated Neighbor Turtle with gas money, and the back and forth “treating” to lunches, and movies via our streaming services, we had less steps that helped us exponentially. Part of that was because Hubby Turtle and I had even more challenges stacked on top of the pandemic, the transpo stuff, and the rising prices of everyday life. Hubby Turtle had back problems; I am a cancer survivor.

Neighbor Turtle has rescued us repeatedly as, the case can be made for us two turtles: “no heavy lifting.” Neighbor Turtle has literally grabbed grocery bags out our hands, proving his athleticism and caring kindness, schlepping those suckers up all of those mini-landings worth of stairs within our building. He has even picked up my hubby turtle’s pain meds and has accompanied us to medical appointments, including a trip to my oncologist, when I was one shaky turtle.

Moral support. In this case, via transpo, it came racing toward us through the kindness of turtle stacking. Met needs. And loving concern.

Hitching a Ride and/or a Shell…

Getting around is essential. Buying groceries, making medical appointments, and getting to work are just a few daily examples of how navigating life is important and is further impeded when transportation is a risky, expensive, and unstable endeavor. Life is tough and spendy enough. Therefore ridesharing, carpooling, giving a friend, family member, or a neighbor a ride here or there can often make a major impact. How much more so in the case of an emergency! Therefore, stack those turtles and help someone out. Hopefully, if you’re in need, there is a friend or neighbor, like ours, to give you a ride on their shell.

One Good Turtle Turn Deserves Another:

Not that anyone was keeping score here, with the help that was going back and forth, but inevitably, life reveals a challenging, and sometimes, destabilizing reality: situations change.

And our friendly turtle neighbor had just that happen to his shell. A few months ago, a car accident took away Neighbor Turtle’s vehicle. Now getting around for not just one, not just two, but three of us became even more difficult. Here was, again, was where some turtle stacking and networking came into play. Hubby Turtle and I rented cars to get through the short-term. But now, there was a more urgent need for a new vehicle. Hubby and I got on it. And, yes, with a little help from our Neighbor Turtle Friend. By agreeing to serve as a reference for a car loan, we had a car for all three of us to now stack ourselves on and get through life.

The three of us helping each other out. And that’s where we find ourselves currently. We may be going somewhat slow, but we’re getting there.

And we’re getting things done.

The Turtle of Human Kindness.

I’m also reminded of another internet gif of one turtle, lying helplessly on its shell, with its feet squirming in the air. There was a nearby turtle, who seeing the little guy’s plight, came to the rescue, and flipped the poor critter over, so it could be on its merry way.

The animal kingdom is more Johnny-on-the-spot than humanity. It’s rather condemning, isn’t it?

This is just more mounting evidence to learn from this quiet, slow creature.

“Many hands make light work.”

“Many turtles make light work.”

Again, the stacking turtle image shows that. Three turtles are getting across the water.

If we help each other, we can get across the difficulty, the obstacle, the life-changing circumstance that gives little-to-no warning that it will hit our lives.

It seems like a no-brainer. It seems like common sense or a tidy cliché. Yet, how many of us feel isolated, cut off, all as we try, for whatever reason, to go it alone?

Because of pride? Because we don’t take the time to know about someone else’s hardships? Because we’re too busy? Because we believe it doesn’t matter?

The cliché is true; we need each other.

Where are you right now?

Who’s in your life, in your sphere of influence?

Do you know your next-door neighbor?

Are you really aware of a friend or a family member’s struggles?

I’m sure you’ve come across this sentiment, widely posted:

“Everyone is fighting a battle you don’t know about. Be kind.”

I’m getting quite an education as Hubby Turtle, Neighbor Turtle, and I take turns riding on each other’s shells. Health and mobility issues. Financial instability. A car accident. A pandemic. Seems like perfectly stackable conditions if you ask me.

What’s a stackable condition for you? How could you help another turtle?

Let’s start stacking already!

Copyright © 2021 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

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