It always has been for more than at least 3/4 of the world’s population. Mind numbing, body draining and attacking poverty. Now thanks the waning of oil and acceleration of population’s effect many in the west who have been unaccustomed to suffering are starting to get a chance first hand to experience it. A question is, what will a people used to being the powerful benefactor do when hunger and poverty knock on their door? And what will the people that depend on their charity do?

Hot day, concrete, approaching a red light, then my eyes looking, trying to process disbelief

a slow turtle determination in his step going at a turtle’s pace across the intersection.

Cars whizzing by, turtle cruising forward– disaster looming.

Turtle just wants to get from one set of cool waters and reeds to another, cars “need” to get errands done, high priority lives— time is money, time is sacred.

Poor turtle.

In that split second, I know my wife would stop, I tell myself I need to too, turtle life, nature life, creation life: this is important.

But, no easy place to park, to leave the hulking car and save lives.

I turn right, looking for parking,

I turn around, looking for a place to pull over, thinking of myself and safety, but still hoping I can do something for the poor turtle.

As I maneuver awkwardly I see the impossible.

Late model Honda Civic coupe in the middle of the intersection, emergencies flashing, door open, and half the intersection away a flashy young Latina in high heels holding the turtle with its feet churning, moving him to the green grass fronting cool water.

Lessons for me: (among many)

1) On reactions to emergencies at hand– I commend and am simultaneously mystified by those who put others before self. I know I should and I was cautiously resolving to. Not so the twenty something Latina, she saw this as something of higher importance, something where the laws of streets and traffic would need to bend to accomodate her life-saving mission.

2) The Metaphor for humanity’s relationship to the environment– is earth the turtle, doomed in its slow, sane organic cycle of life, us the humans with layered artificialities strangling the planet under asphalt and dreams of conquest and importance? Will running over the turtle destroy our very core?

In our planetary emergency can we react quickly enough to save anything?

What do you think?