Tim Dowling: having a tortoise reminds you that life is long
My wife got ours when she was eight, and he came to live with us soon after we got married. I don’t remember anything about that in the vows
TL;DR
- The tortoise is a pet that allows owners to forget its existence for long periods.
- The author's tortoise has been with the family for nearly 30 years, outliving other pets.
- The tortoise's history includes escaping, living on a farm, and returning to the family.
- The tortoise has required the author's attention for being on its back, propping doors, and being found during dormant periods.
- A friend's son is surprised the tortoise is still alive.
- The tortoise's presence, and the author's occasional forgetfulness of it, is a reminder of life's length.