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Little Dude was anxious, excited, and ready as he jumped off the deck declaring, “OK daddy, let’s go! I have my life jacket on!” Fastening the last of the buckles midair. We loaded into the red/orange Kayak and set out on our paddle.
I slowly stroked the surface with the paddle, alternating sides. Little Dude, nestled neatly in the cockpit in front of me. We glided along the surface of the lake as the lapping of the water against the hull of the small craft soothed us.
Little dude, abruptly, jumped up and exclaimed; “Dad! There is a turtle up there!” I looked, and sure enough, there on the rocks ahead of us were five or six turtles sunning themselves in the mid afternoon sun. I laid the paddle across the cockpit. We drifted, ever so slowly toward the rocks and the turtles. Little Dudes voice fell to a whisper, “Closer now.”
◊♦◊
Plop, the first turtle dove from its perch into the lake, then one by one, plop, plop. , plop. All we saw now were rocks.
Little Dude, still with little more than a whisper, defiantly said, “Dad, we have to be quieter and slower, else the turtles will jump away from us.” I picked up the paddle and slowly, alternately, dipped it into the lake giving us the slightest push with each stroke.
We drifted toward the shore, between two branches of a large willow tree. The branches dipped for a span into the lake, rising again with foliage outstretched. Reaching to touch the sky. Two large turtles plopped back into the water. Little Dude asked me to stop here. “Dad,” he said, “you look that way (pointing left), and I’ll look this way.” “Oh, and Dad, keep your eyes peeled like a banana!”
So we floated there motionless. The gentle breeze pushing small waves against the kayak. We sat, and sat, and sat. Then, Little Dude, working to be mindful of his own advice, tapped my leg and pointed with both his fingers and his eyes. There floating next to us were several baby turtles. Stealthy in their green, yellow, orange and black camouflage, they popped their heads up between the submerged leaves of the willow. These turtles were likely this spring’s hatch. Their shell about the size of a half dollar.
◊♦◊
I slowly moved my hand over the gunnel and into the water. I gently plucked one of the small creatures from the water and brought it on board to give Little Dude a closer look. The small turtle was as bright and colorful as its full grown “parents”. Little Dude noticed the patterns of colors on its head, neck, legs tail and the underside if its shell. He whispered, “Dad, he’s little, like me, and he is colorful like his mom.” I said, “he sure is, but we have to put him back so he
can grow up.”
Little Dude looked at me and said: “Dad, I am going to grow up too you know.” I said, “yes, Little Dude, I know you will, but don’t rush it.” I went on to explain to Little Dude that turtles can live for a very long time. I told him that in many cultures they represent, endurance, strength, persistence, wisdom and the continuation of life in spite of incredible odds.
Little dude asked, “is this little turtle one that will live a long time?” I said, “he may, but we need to put him back in the water to give him a chance.” Little dude said, “Dad, we should be like turtles. I like that they are strong and persistent”. I said in return, “Right on buddy, be strong, be persistent and above all be kind.” Little Dude smiled at that as he slowly lowered the small turtle back into the water and let it go. It swam swiftly away.
◊♦◊
We turned the Kayak back toward home, and I once again started to paddle, alternating side to side. About halfway, Little Dude broke the silence, “Dad, will you take me kayaking tomorrow?” “Maybe we can find a snapping turtle! I always wanted to see one of those from the kayak.”
Little dude is the youngest of our three children. Our oldest will have his driver’s license at the end of the summer. With each of my children, I have often found myself wishing I could bottle up moments like these and set them high on a shelf. Then on the darkest of days, unleash some “sunshine” in a bottle.
Yet, it dawned on me as I kayaked around our little lake with my youngest, that the search for the sunshine in a bottle was for naught. My sunshine sat right in front of me.
Today, we shared in weaving a Tapestry of Painted Turtles.
I don’t know what wonderful memory we will weave tomorrow, but I know Little Dude is waiting with a paddle, and I can’t wait to find out.
This article originally appeared on beBee
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Photo: Getty Images
I love this story, and all the others Aaron has written. I’m his proud Mom, and Little Dude is my youngest grandchild. This story echos the Proverb, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Thanks Mom!
LIttle dude….may have to use that for my kid, except he’s 19. Guess I have to call him Big Dude….or Lebowski. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder to enjoy the little things with the kids, Aaron!
Thank you Andrew! He’s been my “Little Dude” since the day he was born. Once he actually told someone that was his name. . . I appreciate you reading and your support my friend.