June 2012 - Allegheny West Magazine

PERSONAL
It is rare, a love note from my husband.
I framed one, and it is on my desk. Not
such a rare occurance at the Hansford’s.
Love got them through some difficult
health issues. Ted always leaves Linda a
love note somewhere before he goes off to
work on his Little Debbie delivery route,
delivering cakes and pastries.
Ted takes his lunch to work. Every day
he has a banana, like no other banana. He
reads his banana, a daily reminder of
Linda’s love. Yes, she writes Ted banana
love notes.
Ted’s sense of humor can be read on his
Little Debbie truck’s license plate:
CAKEJOB. He gifted their son with a
specialty license plate but did not tell him
about it. Son, Bobby, also drives a Little
Debbie truck. Weeks later, Bobby’s friend
commented on the license plate. Bobby
stopped his truck, got out to look at his
own new license plate. Dad’s humor was
attached. It reads: CAKEJOB2.
“A turtle travels only when it sticks its
neck out” -- Korean Folk Saying
Known to his Virginia Hills neighbors as
Turtle Dave, he walks with his girl, Riley.
His girl is an African Spur Thigh
Tortoise. He is David, a landscaper and
turtle rescuer.
Rumor has it that David walks Riley on
a leash. It’s true. A disgruntled former
neighbor tried to force David to use a
leash when walking his turtle. After all, he
had to have his dog on a leash. The
neighbor took the matter to the Parks
Board and then to the township and
became more disgruntled when Riley
received a leash exemption.
David’s rescue mission began 11 years
ago. A friend needed a home for her
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Happiness is internal, but it shows....
tortoise, because she was going off to college
to become a veterinarian.
David says, “She was a gift,” a two and a
half pound gift. Riley is a vegetarian, loves
bananas, tomatoes and strawberries. Today
she is about 70 pounds and will get even
bigger, mostly shell weight.
She meanders around in the yard after
David returns home from working with TLC
Landscaping.
When she is ready, their walk begins.
They live at the top of the hill. She leads the
way down the hill, does not stop at the stop
sign, makes a right, walks to the grate over
the road drain where she slowly looks down
into the drain every evening. Then she is
ready to head back up the hill. She does
make slow short detours. David reminds
her, “I’m keeping an eye on you.” He tells
her, “The middle of the road, that’s for
cars.”
But David is aware, “Riley is 13 now and
thirteen-year-olds don’t always listen to
their dads.”
She has her own room which she shares
with one turtle. Each room, with the
exception of David’s bedroom, is home to a
By
Erma Dodd
North Fayette Township
resident
turtle or two, a total of eight aquatic
turtles. Each one a gift or……was David a
gift to each one?
David is not sure what the difference is
between a turtle and a tortoise, but he does
know “Riley takes offense at ‘turtle.’ She
knows she is a tortoise.”
“Turtles can get noisy, especially Mag.
She rearranges the rocks (furniture) in her
aquarium often.” David has named some of
the turtles. Once he gives them a name, he
will not give them away. Mag is short for
“Magical.”
Riley loves the heat. Africa is hot. So she’s
lovin’ 90 degree weather and loves to walk
in the heat. She yawns, and burps loudly.
She clears her throat, “like a truck driver.”
Winters she will sleep on the register. David
covers her at night with one of his warmest
tee shirts and tells her “Good Night.”
David enjoys “hilly billy” music, but after
awhile Riley will leave the room. David’s
home bears a yellow sign, a gift from a park
employee, that reads “Turtle Crossing.”
David adds, “We have good neighbors.”
That includes Colby, the dog next door,
Riley’s watchdog and friend. Colby’s bark
changes if Riley strays too far.
When asked, “Do you love her?” He
answers, “Not more than my mother, but
she’s like the love of my life.”
Lessons learned from Riley,” Patience. I
thought I did have patience until I met her. I
have learned to relax, think, take a
moment,”…. enjoy a simple moment.
With this publicity, David hopes Riley’s
newfound fame does not go to her head.
“She already thinks she is Queen of
Virginia Hills.”