Omer 2019 Day 34: Turtles

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Omer 2019 Day 34: Yesod in Hod, Foundation in Glory

International Turtle Day

Photo by laura parenti from Pexels

A few weeks ago, a very large turtle was spotted roaming around the parking lot outside my house. We live next to a golf course, so I have to imagine that the turtle lives in one of the ponds and wandered off the course. A couple of our neighbors spent their morning putting notes on car windshields to alert people to the turtle's presence, and by the end of the day, it had wandered away again.

Today is International Turtle Day and if you're wondering why they get their own day, let me tell you that turtles are amazing animals (and not just the teenage mutant ninja variety)! The first turtles can be dated back to the Mesozoic Era, 220 million years ago. Talk about an established foundation! Not only have turtles been around as a species for a long time, they have long lifespans too - some can live to be over 100 years old! Turtles are pretty glorious from the moment they're born. Female turtles lay eggs on land and leave them to gestate and hatch on their own; they do not watch their nest or come back to care for their little ones (the brown turtle, pictured above, is the exception to this rule). Once hatched, baby turtles are on their own, and they quickly learn how to feed and care for themselves.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!