Testudo Hermanni

A portrait of my mother, my tortoise, and mild winters: In 2009, I moved from my home in Salzburg, Austria, to the United States. The care of my pet tortoise, Tony, fell upon my mother, Kathleen. Tony’s species, native to the Mediterranean, hibernate several months each winter at a predictable temperature. Our family’s garage used to provide these conditions, but recent erratic winters forced my mother to find a more reliable, future-facing solution. What’s revealed is an intimately amusing story of familial relationships rising to the occasion of unpredictable climate change, in which providing mindful care, above all, plays a crucial role.