Turtle, Tortuga, & Honu

While I was in Hawai'i, I made one post on a Friday about my pieces of happy that week. (I know, I've failed to post since then. Transitions from one event to another are time-consuming and the blog was the last thing on my mind for a little while.)

Anywho, one of my pieces of happy was about seeing turtles in their natural habitat. Here are just a few pictures of the turtles I found at Papanuu Beach, also known as the "Black Sand Beach". 

The turtles in this first picture were laying on eggs (or so said the sign in front of them). My family is pretty sure that the turtle in the second picture was actually stuck in between the rocks near shore. 

The turtles were so peaceful. They just laid there, hardly moving. Some, I'm pretty sure didn't move at all. I saw a few lift up their heads and look around, but the others just relaxed on the sand. 

So, I seem to have this obsession with turtles. I even disturbed one of the turtles to take a picture with it. Sounds like something I would do. I had to be careful though because I was told that turtle could move quickly if it felt threatened. 

I know, you're all waiting to hear about the significance of the turtle. 

To understand though, we have to go back in time...to sixth grade. For some that wasn't long ago. For me, that was 13 years ago. 

In sixth grade, I transferred to a new school, the school my mom worked at as a sixth grade teacher. I was placed on her team, which meant she was my teacher. Not important though.

 One of her co-workers was a guy named Jason Hirschbach. Mr. H, as he was often called, was a short man. Most of the sixth grade students were as tall as him. He liked to joke around...A LOT! Most of the memories I have from him in sixth grade have to do with him telling ridiculously stupid jokes, singing silly songs about one-legged chickens or babies wee-weeing (yes, you read that correctly), and playing hundreds of games of Mancala after finishing homework in Social Studies.

Throughout my middle school years, I spent a significant amount of time in his room after school waiting for my mom to go home for the night. This allowed us a lot of time to talk and build a relationship beyond a teacher/student. We became friends. 

In eighth grade, I became friends with two girls who had been on my team in sixth grade, but didn't know well during sixth grade. Hanging out with them, I found out they called Mr H. "Turtle". It stuck and I started to call him that too. Until I discovered that the Spanish word for turtle was "Tortuga". I had my new nickname for him! One only I used. 

Throughout high school, I had a lot of fun with his new nickname. A man who didn't grow up with technology, I often changed Tortuga's screensaver on his school computer to say something about "Tortuga". His co-workers always played dumb like they didn't know how to change it and it would stay like that until I came back and changed it...usually to something else about "Tortuga". His students loved finding messages I left at night. 

One of many letters I received over the years.

Sometime over these years, he decided I needed a nickname as well. I became "Fishy" since I was an avid swimmer when I met him. I'm not sure we used each other's names often at all. 

Moving to college, I obviously wasn't around as often as I had been in high school. Tortuga didn't let that stop him though. He got my school address from my mom and I would receive letters and "fish food" (money) typically once a month. The fish food was a secret between the two of us so I trust you will keep our secret. :) 

Unfortunately, Tortuga was diagnosed with cancer while I was in college. He fought it strong and hard for many years, but once it came back, there was no stopping it. Tortuga passed away on Christmas Eve in 2010. Christmas morning was pretty rough that year. 

Tortuga was an inspiration to me. He was almost like a second dad. He took me under his wing, made sure I was getting taken care of (and even spoiled), and always had words of encouragement that usually came at times when I was doubting myself. It was like he knew without even having to talk to me.     

Since Tortuga's passing, turtles have become a bit of an obsession. I learned in Hawai'i that turtles, "Honu" in Hawaiian, represent protection and longevity. That seems so fitting for my relationship with Tortuga. I have slowly been collecting turtle items and every time I see a turtle, I am reminded of a man who went above and beyond his call as a teacher and invested time building a relationship with a girl who appreciated the support, advice, and friendship over several years. 

In the coming years, I look forward to proudly telling students I encounter about the teacher who invested time in me when it wasn't required of him and how much of an impact that had on my life. I will also proudly display turtles in remembrance of Tortuga. I recently purchased this necklace in Hawai'i and can't wait to wear it!

In closing, since I know I've written a book, I'd like to share a quote Tortuga used to say constantly. 

"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A SMILE"

Who has been an inspiration in your life?