A Turtle For Thanksgiving? A Family Tradition!A Granddad Teaching his Grandson the Important Principle of Being Thankful!My Granddad always kept a big ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ setting in the back yard - which for all practical purposes - looked just like a real turtle setting there. Come Thanksgiving time, he’d even bring one inside his huge farm house, which set high on a real hill-top and was almost a real mansion. That Ole Turtle Shell sure looked out of place in Granddad’s beautiful dining room at Thanksgiving Time, sitting a-top something real high, for everyone to see. I still remember the first time I asked Granddad why he did this - always kept an ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ - and he said, “Because my dad always did, and his dad always did, and his dad before him always did - all the way back to the Pilgrims, I reckon. It’s our family tradition. “But WHY?” I asked, very eager to know, “WHY do you do this?” “Do you really want to know?” he asked with a grin on his rugged face! “YES!” I nearly shouted with childhood enthusiasm “YES!" “Come here,” he said motioning, and we walked over to the ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ ”This is to remind me to ALWAYS BE THANKFUL!” he said, with deep emotion, petting the Ole Turtle Shell just a little. “But HOW?” I asked! “How does an ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ remind you to be thankful, Granddad" He paused a moment then replied. “Because . . . as soon as I - or anyone else for that matter - sees a real turtle a-top a fence post, immediately every one knows: ‘That turtle didn’t get there by itself’! . . . Right?” “Right!” I said! Then he said . . .
“So I keep an ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ as a Reminder."I understood about a turtle not being able to climb a-top a fence by itself, but was still perplexed at 4-5 years of age how that reminded Granddad to be thankful. So I asked again for the third or fourth time: “But how does knowing that remind you to be thankful, Grandpa?” He took a deep breath, . . . put his hands on my shoulders, . . . looked me right in the eyes. . . and exclaimed: “Grandson, don’t ever forget this! No matter how much you achieve, no matter how much money you make, no matter how great you become, no matter how many people praise you loudly - NO ONE - EVER GETS TO THE TOP - all by their self.” Granddad paused - put both hands on the big-ole fence post and gave it a hard push, then a very hard pull - but it didn’t budge. Then he kicked it hard and told me to kick it hard - which I did: but it still didn’t budge. Granddad went on - “And Grandson, once you’re up there - high on the top - it takes something REAL STRONG TO HOLD YOU UP and KEEP YOU THERE - like FAITH IN GOD! That’s the point of having a ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ You get it?” “Sure do Grandpa! - pause - And when I getta’ house, I’m gonna’ put me an ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-A-Fence-Post’ too - you wait and see!” “Dinner’s Ready-y-y-y-y! Come to Thanksgiving Dinner-r-r-r-r!" some one called from the farmhouse high on the hill as the Dinner Bell rang out through the valley. Granddad and I walked toward the house, with all the wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner fragrances wafting through the air. I was holding my big-strong-Granddad’s hand, got to thinking about the turtle again, stopped, looked up at Granddad - right in his eyes - and asked soberly: “You will come and see MY ‘Ole-Turtle-Shell-A-Top-MY-Fence-Post’, won’t you Granddad?” “You betcha, Grandson!” he said, “You betcha!" So we ate a wonderful Thansgiving Dinner - with ALL the trimmings. I looked up at the 'Ole Turtle Shell High on Top the Mantle' now then, looked over at Granddad, and grinned REAL BIG: cause now I KNEW about the Thanksgiving Turtle Tradition!
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