A Facebook memory from three years ago popped up and reminded me that today, May 24, is Turtle Day. I dug through some old writing and found the first 'Letter from the Editor' I wrote for my school paper. It was both hilarious (not my worst writing) and kind of relevant. I wanted to share it here because it's too good to just keep in an aging school newspaper, and it also holds a deeper meaning. As my time winds down in England, I am reminded the value in each and every day. Every interaction grows more significant and I realize that this is the beginning of the end of my time abroad. Each day is special, so even though it's not very travel related, enjoy this celebration of Turtle Day. I would like to inform you of the momentous occasion occurring on Saturday, May 23. This day has been set aside as Turtle Day and I believe it is all of our duties to celebrate it. This glorious day is meant to allow all to explore the beautiful world of turtles and tortoises, and raise the awareness needed for these cute little nuggets to survive and thrive. Ways to celebrate Turtle Day include educating yourself about turtles, personally saving turtles (this may be difficult in the turtle-deprived landscape we call home), dressing up as a turtle, or petting a turtle. Turtles (and their tortoise brethren) are severely underrated reptiles. Very few know, but turtles can actually be taught tricks. In ancient Turkey, they were often taught to ‘dance’ to a song. Some tortoises eat cactus, because they are just that cool. Seriously, who could make this stuff up? For those of you less experienced with turtles, here is a quick guide on how to pet such a magnificent creature:
WARNING: Turtles do hiss. Do not be thrown by this feline-like action. All the turtle wants is love, but you have to let him come to terms with it on his own time. Unfortunately, humans have a tendency to destroy habitats and pollute the air and water, which has led to a sharp decline of turtle populations. Increased awareness of these liabilities through actions such as Turtle Day have lead to a larger conservation effort for the turtles. Personally, I encourage you to create your own turtle costume and initiate conversations with those around you about the importance of turtles and the celebration of their existence. On a broader note, did you know most days are allocated some sort of obscure event? For example, May 22 was named Don’t Fry Day, a day to encourage sunscreen application and sunburn prevention. While this pursuit is noble, it does not come close to competing with Turtle Day. However, please do wear sunscreen. Maybe you can go sunbathing with a turtle after you lather up, because turtles love the sun. To me, these daily celebrations are truly a magical thing. We can have holidays to celebrate each day, whether it is Turtle Day or May the Fourth. It is so easy for us to let the days blur together until they become this giant, sad blob. Do not take these days for granted, Palmer. Celebrate each day you have because there is always something magical in it, even if that magic is simply Googling a turtle eating a strawberry (highly recommended, by the way). Make sure you remember to commemorate life’s small miracles as much as possible. And a very happy Turtle Day to all!
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Amy Golden
Amy will be spending the academic year at the University of Sunderland in England studying journalism. Archives
February 2018
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