I FEEL GOOD, I FEEL GREAT, I FEEL WONDERFUL!
This is Bob, my Worry Turtle. I named him after Bob Wiley, the neurotic character Bill Murray played in "What About Bob?" Bob was always worried about something: "What if I have to go to the bathroom and I can't find one and my bladder explodes?" (It never did.)
Bob was agoraphobic; whenever he was forced to leave the house he would rub his forehead and repeat, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful."
I repeated that line to myself this morning. The past few days I've been feeling really low, uninspired about my work, worried about how we're going to afford my husband's looming hip surgery - basically functioning in that "I can't think of a single thing that would make me happy right now" mode. Let's just say I've been a real joy to be around lately.
So this morning when not even my steaming cup of java happiness could lift my spirits, I figured I'd take a walk. Azaleas blooming, dogwoods in full color and with every step I'm mumbling to myself, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful."
As I came around the corner I saw an elderly man shuffling out to his mailbox and when he saw me, his face lit up as he called out an enthusiastic "Hello!" When I responded with a polite, "How are you?" he answered with a big smile on his face, "Fantastic!"
"I can tell," I replied.
"You probably know why," he said.
"No," I said, shaking my head and thinking about how long it was going to take to get my heart rate back up after what would certainly be a delay in my pitiful little attempt at exercise. Earlier in the morning I had prayed that my life would exhibit more of the fruits of the spirit.....love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc, so I sensed this was a divine set-up.
He was thrilled to have an audience. "At one time in my life I was paralyzed," he said and went on to tell me about how when he was in the service in Austria, an army vehicle ran into him and he hit his head on a boulder when he landed.
"I was so fortunate. One of my buddies was dating an Austrian girl and her mother was determined that I wouldn't convalesce in the Army hospital, which was nothing more than a big barn."
The woman took him to her home and cared for him, feeding and bathing him until he recovered. "To this day I can see her in my mind and it still brings tears to my eyes," he said, as his eyes welled up.
He went on to tell me about his life as an accountant and how at one time he was an elder in his church, making visitations to shut-ins. "Now I need somebody to come visit me," he said. He told me he spends a lot of time doing crossword puzzles. "My wife bought me a big dictionary," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.
We said goodbye and I resumed my walk, thinking about all the things that have had me down lately. And I remembered how when I was little I used to get in trouble for pouting. My mom would say my lower lip stuck out so far I could catch rain drops with it.
As I walked back into the house, my husband hobbled to the door with his cane and asked me how was my walk.
"Fantastic!" I replied.
thanks for taking the time to write this. I've been kinda down lately and this just made me happy. : )
Reply to this
What About Bob and The Man Who Knew Too Little(If you haven't seen this one yet, go rent it tonight!).....my favorite all time great movies!
Dr. Marvin.....DR. LEO MARVIN!
Oh, I get it, Dr. Marvin....death therapy
Reply to this
Great story! I love it.
I found your blog via a Google Image Search for turtles. We love turtles at our house too, so much so that we have a turtle themed site too. Like you, we're not just about the animal, we like all of the artifacts too. Check us out.
Regards. -TurtleDude
Reply to this
Eeeeeeeeeee! I found your website! It's WONDERFUL! I can relate to turtleness. Well, maybe. Actually, I'm more of a mole. Your disguise is fantastic! The turtleness is not visible at all! Hugs
Reply to this
Hi Susan,
My friend Tiffany found your blog. I'm stunned. Please visit mine and you will know why. Barbara
Reply to this
I googled 'turtle muse' and found your site. The turtle is also my muse. I discovered this in 2004 when I was let go of my job after 15 years. I withdrew into myself and my house. I knew I was withdrawing and isolated and could not accept it. That is when I did a collage with a large tortoise and realized that it was okay. It's okay to withdraw and come out and go back in. It's all OK!
I would like to send you a scan of the collage if you like.
My best,
Ellenh
Reply to this
Hi Ellen
I'd love to see the scan of your collage -please send it! Maybe I could work it into the blog somehow; I haven't blogged on this particular site for quite awhile, so that would be a motivation for me to do so!
How did you happen to google "turtle muse?"
Where do you live?
Best,
Susan
Reply to this
Did a Google search for "turtle garden" and found this
Reply to this
Wow - I've been feeling like I need to take this up again; you are the second comment I've had this week and you both encouraged me to start writing again. I actually speak for Stonecroft Ministries and use the turtle metaphor to give my personal testimony. I also live in North Carolina. Where are you located?
Reply to this
You write very well and the turtle is a wonderful muse! I hope to see more of your writing here. We bought in Southern Wake and are settling in little by little (translation, turtle sloooow!)
Reply to this
Your wish is my command - new turtle post coming up soon. My granddaughter is visiting and while we were over at the coast for the 4th she brought me a turtle shell she found at the beach. I'm a little slow, too, but it's clear I need to step up the pace. Slowly......
Let me know when you're up my way and I'll invite you over for coffee and a tour of my turtle collection. That means I'll have to dust it though; hmmm..........
Reply to this