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But remember the aquarium our youngest received from her daddy for her birthday last month?
Here is the latest on our little two-feet tropical world...
That giant algae eater whom she gave the original name of John to is still going strong. And growing strong. I have never in my life seen such a humongous fish...with such bulging froggy eyes...in my life!
And we've added many tropical fish friends - plus two plain fish friends- and each and every one of them has names.
Half belong to my youngest, and the other half to my oldest. And they all can identify them one and all..
Imagine our delight, when three new teeny-weeny baby fish were discovered last week!
Now, I just don't know anything about fish breeding and their egg-laying techniques...but whatever they did, worked, and we have three new tiny tropical fish swimming around.
But here's the sad part...the mama (which I would have never known was the mama- the girls and their daddy seem to know them all pretty intimately, though) became ill and passed away Saturday night.
Their daddy had checked on the poor Sunny Lee when he first woke up- and seeing her demise, retrieved her before the girls were awake, placing her -well...OK... it was an Easter egg.
Not one of those plain plastic eggs...but a special, very decorative one. No, I'm not sure why.
We were worried about how the girls would take it, but though they were, indeed, sad...no actual tears were shed. But they very solemnly went through a ceremony with their daddy leading and some help from me, giving her a proper burial in the front yard before we left for church.
It was our oldest's fish...so she asked her daddy to pray, and then we all took turns saying our good-byes.
My parents were just as sweet and sensitive when I was growing up with pets, too.
But honestly, it brought back a certain memory...as my parents and I said good-bye to one of my fishies, my mom ceremoniously put it- not in an Easter egg- but in an empty fish stick TV dinner box.
It was awhile before I could enjoy a good all-you-can-eat at Skipper's after that.
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28 comments:
I haven't seen the fish tank yet. Sorry to hear about Sunny Lee whom I never had a chance to meet. I guess the tv dinner box was the only available thing I could find at the time. I don't remember that at all, but remember the first little fish bowl you had was small & later we got you an aquarium with a pump.
Oh... So sorry. having just lost our dear Sir Surly, I know how you all must be feeling. HUGS
Oh my goodness...a fish stick box?? That's funny. Our fish are still doing great, too. I can't believe it.
Sorry to hear about yours...and so glad you took the time for a proper burial. Your girls will be so much better for it.
:-) Susan
I'm sorry about your fishy. But the fish stick box story cracked me right up.
When our first fish died when my kids were small, I was awakened to a slimy dead fish being put right up to my face in the small hands of my boy informing me his fish had died. And could he flush it now.
Sorry about the fish. But how great you have little baby fish. So sweet to do a little cermony for the kids.
Oh that is too funny. The fish stick box I mean.
Sorry for your loss. Glad the girls are taking it well. I'm sure a full aquarium helps, and new babies are sure fun to watch.
Fish are fun! and they can be sad, too.
We had some Angel fish at school that kept laying eggs--Lots of eggs! Often!
We'd get some of the babies to the tiny fish stage and then the Mama and Daddy would eat them or something else would happen. We never did get any to adult size!
It happened so often some of the older children would start guessing how many days we would have babies! It was time to separate those two Angels before some industrious child started taking bets!
We didn't keep those little fish long enough to need a fish stick box! :)
The girls already had to say good-bye to hubby's very old dog last year...so to them, a fish was much easier. Yes, they're doing just fine! :)
Mom, that fish box memory just came rushing back to me...LOL...I had almost forgotten it. (But I don't remember the little fish bowl.)I do remember one hopping out of the tank and for years I had nightmares about it!
And Susanne...your fish story is hilarious!!! :D
Myrna, I missed reading yours...yikes!
I wondered about the babies and if they might get eaten...maybe they'll be the odds!
We were never very successful at keeping fishing alive. I am glad you had a proper burial. This reminds me of a great Cosby episode with Rudy burying a fish. So cute.
Thanks for stopping by my yard show and tell today - it is a great place to sit and enjoy and feels somewhat secluded from the many neighbors because of all the foliage.
I'm so sorry your girls lost their pet. The little ceremony helps make it easier.
Your fish box story was funny! Here's my fish story:
When my two were about 5 & 7 we went to a carnival with my best friend and her two children. My daughter won a goldfish and it was placed in a plastic bag to carry home. After a long day we headed home and my best friend whispered to me that the fish was dead. As I dropped her off, I told her to just flush it away.
By the time I got home, the phone was ringing and when I answered she was giggling so hard I could hardly understand her.
"Susie, the fish is swimming around in the toilet!" She got it out with a strainer of some sort...Guess the cold water revived it!!
That fish lived for quite some time!!
xo
Oh, what a sweet post. I am laughing a little at the dead fish in the fish stick box...
I do hope your girls are okay now! It was sweet of you guys to do a proper burial!
Glad the girls took the loss well. It's all learning about life.
Susan
At least the poor little fish didn't go the way of the BIG FLUSH. A fancy Easter egg sounds much better. I lost a few fish, a hamster and two cats during my childhood.
What a sweet post Tammy. I kept thinking, as I was reading it, about that Cosby show where they had the funeral ceremony for the fish - in the bathroom. It was such a cute episode.
I think it's a good way for the little ones to begin to see the process of life and death - not too scary. You guys did a good job!
The fish stick box story is just a hoot! That really is funny even though I'm sure you were saddened by the death of your fish! We had a few jump out of the tank and we'd find them on the floor stiff as a board. My niece Funsize just lost one of her favorite fish, Charlie Chaplin and she felt really bad. He was a beauty with big buggy eyes!
ROFLOL!
Oh! I'm probably not supposed to be laughing, but your mom's stabbing wit is almost too much to bear!
*catching breath* I'm sorry for your loss.
Ok, you are a much nicer mommy than I. We just flush our dead fish. This was such a sweet story.
Your fish tank sounds like a wonderful addition and fun for the whole family. I love to sit and watch fish. I'm sorry about Sunny Lee. I think when I was young we always "flushed" our fish instead of burying them. I had to laugh at the fish box burial...seems appropriate to me! Have a great weekend! Diane
Oh no, poor Sunny Lee. I hate that for your girls. Fish or not, it was still a pet. I'm glad they took it as well as they did.
Good way to end the post, with a little giggle. A fish stick box, oh the irony:o) lol
I'm glad we weren't responsible for disposing of Licorice. She was a bit too big to squeeze into and Easter egg! (An Easter egg?)
We did have some fun with Jackie the Gerbil, however.
Our rat terrier found the lid off of Jackie's cage and did the family a favor (or so she thought) by killing the vicious rodent and proudly displaying her prey in dining room. Was she ever confused when we yelled at her!
Poor, poor Bonehead. He was 9 or 10 years-old and struggling with all his might not to cry. His best friend, Pokey, did cry and ran home hysterical because he was the one who left the cage uncovered.
It was winter, so I asked Bonehead if he wanted me to save Jackie's body to be buried in the Spring. He said "yes", so Jackie went into a check box and then into the chest freezer.
Pokey was forgiven and life went on. By springtime everyone had forgotten about Jackie.
I cleaned out the freezer here and there, but always dutifully put her back in the freezer. Who knows why?
Finally THREE YEARS LATER we had a gathering of Jr. High kids from church over to our house for a picnic. The topic of Jackie came up and no one believed we had a dead gerbil in our freezer.
Determined to prove them wrong, Mulletman dug her out, opened the box and showed everyone. Some folks lost their appetite. Who knows why?
She's gone now, but her memory lives on. Here's to Jackie and Licorice and Sunny Lee!!!
It's always hard to say goodbye to our pets but it's nice that you were sensitive about it. We had one fish - ONCE! That was it.
The fish stick box is too funny. I don't think we've ever buried a fish, but we do have a few crosses at the edge of the woods in back of our yard for other pets of the rodent persuasion that we've lost.
How thoughtful of your hubby to lead the ceremony. What a great dad!
Love the fish story! You left me chuckling about Skippers.
so many fish eat their babies....
when we had guppies we always had lotza greenery for the babies to hide.
Sorry about Sunny Lee.
My one year blog birthday is this week. Hope you stop by whenever I get a post up.
Sad about the fish, but funny about the fish box.
This is very sweet. At the least, she left some offspring for everyone to remember her by...
XO,
Jill
Oh poor Sunny Lee!
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