Raphael, Turtle Extraordinaire 

Picture Challenge Day 3

     Today, I took a picture of my turtle, Raphael.  He is the oldest of my turtles, of which i have three.  Fafael had a sistster named Keitty who passed when she was cery young.  I bought Raphael on a whim illegally at Green Dragon,  a huge flea/farmers market.

     I bought Rafael seven and a half years ago when I opened my first hookah lounge after completing college.  I thought the lounge needed a fish or pet and a turtle was perfect.  I never realized how large my then dime-sized friend would grow to be.  I also never realized that they live, on average, 30 years.  That's a lot of commitment!

      I'm not exactlysure what I will do with the turtles as they grow bigger.  How big do aquariums get?  Anyway, that is the story of Rafael, the turtle, mascot of The Pillar Lounge, Reading.