wendyroo Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Nickel the turtle has been in our family for 28 years. I found him floating down our canal when his shell was still soft. He was about the size of a half dollar, but my younger brother thought he was nickel-sized and named him accordingly. I was 8 at the time, my brother was 4, and my mother agreed that we could keep Nickel for a while, but warned us every day that he would probably die soon. Nickel grew into a wonderful pet who was was low-maintenance and fur-free, loved being played with, and seemed to recognize his family and would come when called. Once both my brother and I had graduated college, my mother announced that she was ready to pass on our heirloom pet and that one of us would need to take Nickel home to live with us. My brother was in an apartment, while I was married and owned a home, so I soon became Nickel's new owner. That was about a decade ago, and Nickel has been a beloved pet here. He has always been a fixture in the kids' lives. I haven't yet told them that he is dead, and I keep crying every time I think about doing so. I'm not sure I have even wrapped my own mind around it yet. It was warm yesterday, and he was perky and active. He was chasing minnows and climbing to peak out of his aquarium. He was fine. My parents are coming in a few hours to collect Nickel to take him back and bury him at the cottage near where we found him. I think this is for the best because if he was buried here I would be very worried that my kids would try to dig him up, and I don't think I could deal with that. It is a sad, overwhelming day around here. Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Wendy :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fralala Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Hoping the kids do okay with the news and are neither devastated nor insensitive. Thank you for sharing your Nickel story with us. 28 years! He sounds like a special turtle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm sorry. He sounds like he was a lovely pet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 ((Hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Oh, I'm so sorry! What an amazingly long life he had. Hugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: Rest in peace, Nickel. I’m sorry for your loss. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 ((((hugs)))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junie Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I’m so sorry. (((hugs))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm sorry. What a part of your life he has been! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elastimom Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm so sorry. Sounds like he had a great life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 (hugs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm so sorry. We've only had our turtle(s) for about a year and we are very attached. I hope we get 28 years with her. (We had two foster turtles, but Mercury died in December. I don't think Pluto is going to last much longer. Mercury just wouldn't grow and Pluto isn't growing much. Our original turtle, Venus, is a couple months older and she's growing like crazy so clearly something isn't quite right with Pluto and something was definitely wrong with Mercury.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Aww, that sounds super sad. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Awww, I'm sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 ((((Hugs))) we have a 28 yr old python, and I’m not looking forward to when he eventually dies. Herps often tend to be “here one day, gone the nextâ€, and once they get past the fragile hatchling stage, tend to be long lived and rugged enough that it’s easy to forget that they’re mortal. We head start turtles here (our two current babies will start transitioning to outdoor life soon and go back to the wild in a few months) and I love their personality. It sounds like Nickel had a long, happy life. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 It sounds like Nickel was an awesome pet and had a long and happy life. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I’m so sorry for your loss. We love our turtles, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Aww, that story brought tears to my eyes. What a special thing, to have a pet for so long. He had a happy turtle life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage81 Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Thanks for sharing Nickel’s story. He had a wonderful life with you and your family. I’m sorry for your loss. Hugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Nickel sounds like he was an incredible pet who left you with a lot of wonderful memories. I am so sorry for your loss. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachaheart Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like Nickel was a great pet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mominco Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbookbuzz Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 Nickel sounds so lovable. We had turtles when I was a child, but never one that would come when called. I am so sorry that you will be without him after 28 years. (((Hugs))) How did Nickel get his name? I'd love to hear more about him. He sounds quite unusual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guinevere Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 I'm sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.