Are you a turtle?

I became a turtle at Camp Neewahlu on Lake Coeur d'Alene during the summer of 1965. That was my dish-washing summer when my classmate, Terry Chronic, and I worked for the University of Idaho on the Federal work-study program.

The program had just been launched, so we worked at the university for a few weeks in June and then moved up to Camp Neewahlu for eight weeks, once the little Campfire Girls started showing up from towns throughout North Idaho.

Terry and I had a lot of free time, once we got our dish-washing routine down. We streamlined our system and reduced our workload from eight hours in the hot steam to three. The work-study program paid us for eight hours regardless, and we were designated dishwashers---nothing else.

So, in time spent on the dock or sitting around at night visiting with camp counselors, we did a lot of yakking, learned a lot of crazy songs and even went through the ritual to become Turtles.

Over the years, whenever the urge has hit me, I've occasionally spouted off in the midst of a roomful of people, "Iz anyone in this group a turtle?" To my delight, there are usually at least one or two folks who answer correctly because they know precisely what I'm talking about.

They've been initiated, probably during their youthful days, and they more than likely haven't thought about turtledum for decades. It's always fun for club members, especially because we pick up a few more recruits in the process. Then, years go by, and turtles keep plodding along minding their own business and never thinking about their purest of minds that got them into the club in the first place.

This morning marks a first. I've got the turtle urge. I've never inquired in a blog posting if anyone out there is a turtle? I doubt that anyone has. Maybe I'll make history by this cyber-inquiry, or maybe I'll hear from someone who claims credit for being the first to seek out turtles through blog postings.

Why am I thinking about members of the Turtle Club? Well, there's a hint in my answer. Trish Gannon wrote to me and told me of the great success---financially speaking---of the Clark Fork Donkey Basketball game last night. I was supposed to participate but chose to donate instead.

Trish says the event raised enough funds to match those offered up by a local bank. Those funds will help improve the Wampus Cat football grandstand so fans can sit above the action for a much better view.

When Trish shared this story with me, there was something about a donkey basketball game that made me think of the Turtle Club. Only Turtle Club members will understand why. So, there's your challenge for the day. Let's see how many official Turtles exist out there.

If you don't know what the heck I'm talking about, just spend the day asking a lot of 50-60-somethings if they are a turtle. With luck, the answer will eventually come, and you won't think this gawd-awful cold has started affecting my brain too much.

Or, if you happen to be a turtle, answer up in the comments section. Extra credit for putting your name with your answer.