Another Fish Bites the Dust

My backyard is starting to resemble a pet fish cemetary.

One week after we lost my daughter’s first goldfish, Holla, we lost his brother Kool. And while Holla’s death remains an unsolved mystery, Kool’s falls into the category of “fish are not smart pets.” Kool got himself stuck between the tank and the filter, and fatally sandwiched himself.

We don’t know how long he had been stuck there, but it was long enough to disturb his swim bladder and his ability to stay submerged.  I watched in horror, with Anna over my shoulder, as Kool kept floating to the top and then would propel himself back to the bottom only to start floating up again. It’s one thing to find your pet goldfish floating in the tank it’s quite another to witness it’s live death. I wasn’t about to let my five year old be traumatized unnecessarily.

Feeling helpless and not at all well versed in fish CPR, we started to plan a quick exit to go OUT for dinner. We told Kool to “try and get better” and that we would come back and check on him. We said good-bye and told him that we loved him, just in case…  I even kissed the fish tank for effect. Anna liked that.

Two hours later, Kool was, of course, floating – belly up in the tank.

There were lots and lots of tears.

My heart ached for my little girl who genuinely mourned for her little goldfish. Her emotions were so pure and raw, and I was humbled by my child’s genuine love for such a small creature.

But unlike last time, her sadness soon gave way to anger as she questioned how Kool could have been so dumb and gotten himself so stuck! My poor five year old was exhausted from experiencing the many stages of grief with these goldfish. We cried and hugged it out and then agreed to do a ceremony in the morning.

Well, THREE days later (yes, we had to put Kool on ice – try explaining the need for THAT, good times…), Alex was home in time for dinner and we had a quick ceremony for Kool, the world’s stupidest goldfish.

We asked Anna if she wanted to write a note like she did for Holla and she said no, that she would just talk instead.

Sad sweet Anna

So out we went, under gray skies that threatened to drench us at any second, and we buried our second goldfish, right next to the first. Alex spoke first, saying something about how at least Holla and Kool would be together now in fish heaven, and then it was Anna’s turn. She just looked at Kool and said: “I’m very sad that you got yourself stuck! Ok – ‘bye..”

Got to love it right? So pure, so real. And moving on…

Not sure what the point of this post was. Maybe just to update you that we’ve lost yet another fish and are continuing to talk about the circle of life.  Take note, we are all doing just fine, well – except for our goldfish.

R.I.P. Kool