Taking the turtles to the ocean

A mountain bike ride was in order before starting the trek to get the turtles in the ocean. The NW is beautiful for mountain biking and so very different than anything I've experienced. It's also wonderful to not suck wind and have some legs. So wonderful that I actually asked to climb more today.

The riding is like being transported to another planet where land and sky dwellers yip and holler. Amazing dips and rips among bright green foliage that tugs at the laugh lines.

Today we sit in the ferry line, no not a fairy line, waiting to play amongst the San Juan Islands. Sinfully tired from play dates in Boise and biking around Mt. Baker and Bellingham we wait to load our moving home to it's next plot of land. The truck is repacked to avoid paying double for exceeding the height requirements and the dogs have plenty of wiggle room.

I am pregnant with anticipation to what Basil and brother Johnny think of the ocean. If warm enough I hope to swim with my baby beans!

Signing off so we can go walk the dogs on the beach before loading the ferry. We have plenty of time since we missed the 4pm and now wait fir the 720pm ferry. Good thing there is so much light up here in the north.

Three new little turtles are born into this world...

Lydia is off work, Yeah! Now it is time to deal with our first point of business/pleasure before we leave Denver. A fortieth birthday present and much much more….

The Saunders ladies are strong but I’m not suggesting I put that to the test again any time soon. Needle, ink, pink skin and passion met yesterday followed by a G and T and later a handful of Advil. I might have said the Saunders ladies are strong but I didn’t say they were masochistic, a lady knows when to medicate.

For those of you who have ever spent time dreaming or designing a tattoo will understand this story and for those of you who have not, best get to working on yours! When I started looking at getting another tattoo, yes father (said in the best Star Wars voice I can muster) I’m getting another one. I thought I wanted color but every time I thought I had something these pesky little turtles started popping into my brain. So I thought, oh well turtles can be done in color; I mean tons of people have had them imprinted on their bodies. Ok to discuss that point, if you are looking into a tattoo maybe you shouldn’t Google it unless you want to change your mind. Colored turtles are gross!  Now that I may have turned you off of getting a tattoo or at least a colored turtle tattoo sit back and enjoy my tale of how I came up with my new tattoo.

In 2007, I took a trip with my Mother and Sister to Costa Rica. We have shuffled through these sands many times but this time it was different, It was just the three of us. On this trip we had a wonderful opportunity to protect and serve, baby turtles that is.

One morning, at o’my god early 30, we went down to the hatchery and met our new charges. Our job was to protect these little guys on land, from 4 foot’eds and my mothers feathered friends, until they met their new salty mother and were on their own.

This experience and the little guys won my heart. They are so darn cute as they make a mad dash for the ocean. You can’t just dump them in you have to let them struggle and march their little flippers down the beach so they know where they came from. They made tracks in the sand and in my heart.

My tattoo consists of three turtles, each one representing one of those tuff Saunders Ladies I mentioned earlier. Yep, Sorry Mom but you got to be the biggest one, followed by my older sister with me in the lead. These are in order from my shoulder down to my fingers. I placed these little guys on the underside of my arm, remember that pink skin I mentioned earlier, OUCH. This way they are always close to my body, with my mother and my sister surrounding my heart when I cross my arms or give myself a bear hug (now a turtle hug).

Thank you to all of you who contributed to my pain and suffering for my fortieth birthday present! I love them and wear them in honor. Who knows maybe someday they will have color!

"Madge"