Walking for Autism

This weekend Frankie, Greg (hubby) and I are attending the Birmingham Walk for Autism at Veterans Park.  Got our invitation during the cold winter months so we've plenty of time for planning. 

We love this event and are looking forward to being there with Frankie.

Frankie's attendance to any walk or parade is dependent on several things, common sense things:  weather, health, a clear schedule, an invitation, and a good positive outlook for the day.  

Yesterday, the fearless leader of the Birmingham Walk for Autism sent us a kind e-mail checking in with us.  She was great in offering information about the change in venue (which I didn't know).  She also hoped to see us about 7:30 a.m. for the opening just before the race (new this year).

Oops.  Did she say 7:30 p.m......in the morning?  Really? 

People who don't know about tortoises, turtles, sulcata or Frankie are clueless.  Poor dears, it's not their fault.  Most people judge Frankie along the lines of a dog.

Have I mentioned this before?

Frankie is not a dog.  He moves when he wants to move.  He does not sit, unless he wants to sit.  He doesn't stop walking, unless he wants to stop walking.  If it looks like it's eatable, he will eat it.  He doesn't walk as fast as a dog but don't let that big shell fool you, he walks fast.

And don't expect Frankie to wake up before 9:00 a.m.

Sure, Frankie is awake around 7:00 in the morning.  But he is still doing his beauty rest.

Frankie doesn't do much in the morning until he is ready and for the most part that is well after 8:00 in the morning.

When I read the e-mail that hoped Frankie would be there around 7:30 p.m. I laughed.

I wasn't laughing at her or the e-mail.  No, I was picturing in my mind how I would look trying to drag a I'm-not-moving-until-I'm-ready-to-move 90 pound Frankie Tortoise out of his Frankie Cave.  

I am looking forward to the Walk for Autism this weekend.  We will be there when Frankie decides to get up. 

If a large sulcata doesn't want to move, it doesn't move.

This is why big sulcata owners have fantasies of owning moving cranes, engine lifts and car elevators.