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Tortoises are tough birds, so to speak. As a kid, we had (at one time) 25 desert tortoises as pets. It started out with six, but they kept multiplying, and before we knew it, out Central California backyard was loaded with desert tortoises.

So let me say this about tortoises: each one we owned had a different personality from the next. Yes, they were all placid, stolid, and docile, but they each revealed a unique sort of curiosity and focus. My personal favorite was Skidoo. Unfortunately, he was killed by Oop, who overturned him in battle on a hot day (unbeknownst to us). I've got a million more stories, but I'll spare you.

We eventually gave them all away to friends and neighbors who wanted tortoise pets. My family would never collect tortoises today (it's illegal now in California, and rightly so) but they are wonderful creatures to get to know.

For thirty years, my mom was known as "the turtle lady." LOL