RIP Gherkins

Sometime around 14-16 years ago, Son #2 stayed overnight with a church friend during VBS week.  They were playing around the friend's family pond and they caught a small turtle.  The turtle came home with Son #2 to be kept as a pet and was officially named Gherkins, after the pickle.  Gherkins lived in an aquarium which we kept in the basement in the winter and on the porch in the summer. We were unsure what species it was, but possibly an eastern painted turtle or something similar.

Gherkins died this week of unknown natural causes.  He will be mourned by few, but remembered by many.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah 25:8