🐢 The Woman and the Tortoise Who Grew Old Together

In 1962, for her 10th birthday, Jeanna Smith received an unusual gift: a gopher tortoise she named George. At the time, she had no idea that this quiet, slow-moving creature would become her lifelong companion.

As Jeanna grew up—graduating school, starting a career, building a family—George was always there. He didn’t fetch sticks or bark at strangers, but he offered something deeper: a steady presence, a calming rhythm, and a friendship that never wavered.

Over the decades, George became part of the family. He had his own space in the backyard, a favorite sunning rock, and a diet of fresh greens and strawberries. Jeanna often joked that George had seen more of her life than most people ever would.

Now, more than 60 years later, Jeanna and George are both in their golden years. Their story has touched hearts around the world—a testament to the quiet power of companionship, and how love, in its simplest form, can endure across generations.