Sag Harbor Life. The Turtle.

The Turtle.

I promised to bring stories of Sag Harbor and our new environs, and I have one for you.

The writer within me wants to title—or at least subtitle—this post, “Why did the turtle cross the road?” Which for some reason I find very funny and apropos, as in this case, I am sure the answer to the chicken riddle holds true for this turtle… “to get to the other side.” Be that as it may, I think there was “that” and maybe a bit more for me to consider.

Recently, my husband and I picked up coffee and headed over to Gibson Beach. How cool is that? (Very, very!!) We crossed Montauk Highway and continued south on Sagg Main Street. I spotted something scrambling across the street (well scrambling if you are a turtle) and couldn’t believe my eyes. What appeared to be a snapping turtle was crossing Sagg Main! I grabbed my husband’s arm and shouted, “Turtle, turtle, turtle”—hahaha—it took him a moment to realize that was what he was now seeing in the road right in front of us. He was able to swerve to the right, and avoid running him over — thank goodness; the turtle continued crossing east, despite a pick-up truck heading towards him, and he made it. Whew. It made me recall my friend Janet Verneuille, who lives on the other side of Sag Harbor, and who used to see box turtles crossing her road often. She would apoplectically flag drivers to slow down—who I’m sure thought she was a crazy person with her wild curly hair flying behind her in the early morning wind—as she usually walked before work. It bothered her so much that I recall her preparing signs that she and her children posted in the “turtle crossing” area.

That’s the end of this anecdote, except for it did bring a “hummingbird-type” thought to mind I knew I would have to share. Isn’t it ironic that here we are in the fast paced world of the Hamptons, with activity ramped up with summer in full throttle, and a pokey turtle is slowing things down, just trying to get from “here” to “there?” Is this a lesson as in, “What’s your rush? You’re in the most beautiful environment you can imagine. Ocean, farm fields, inlets, vineyards are all around. Why are you driving fast? You are missing ‘everything.’” And then there is also, the feeling that the turtle was scrambling, knowing it had to move faster, adapt, change to survive. Hmmm. Maybe there is something to be said about both sides of this equation.

And yes. The morning was beautiful, the ocean was calm, and the breezes were divine. Nothing’s perfect, but that day was off to a good start.