You can learn a lot from a goldfish
June 15, 2007 – 3:13 pmOur household has just one pet. That’s all we can handle.
Pierre, a FANCY goldfish, has stuck with us for a whole year. Through thick and thin, missed feedings and the occasional water-so-dirty-you-can-hardly-see-through-it. He’s a special little guy, mostly white, with a big orange lump on his head.
Although… lately we’ve noticed the lump is getting whiter and whiter, so that anymore it just has a teeny bit of orange. Is this what happens to goldfish when they age? Is Pierre “greying”?
Anyhow, the other night when Jay was cleaning Pierre’s goldfish bowl, I took one look at the plasticky plant and the blue decorative fish and announced that Pierre’s furnishings needed to be replaced. They were yucky; covered with mold and rather slimey.
Sure, Pierre probably liked them that way. But Pierre’s not in charge here, I am (Sorry Pierre).
So into the trash they went, and then CJ and I went to Petco to pick out fresh shiny and CLEAN replacements. We picked out a nice plant and a cool rock that has holes for Pierre to swim through (Think of the FUN he’ll have! Frolicking in and out! Peeking through the crevices! He can SLEEP in there, even!)
So last night I excitedly inserted the items into Pierre’s home. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction. Let the frolicking BEGIN!
Much to my surprise, Pierre was NOT excited by his new decor. He swam nervously in circles around the top of the bowl, his little mouth making rapid oh’s as he sucked water in a panicked fashion. And for the entire evening, he has carefully avoided the new plant and rock. This is an accomplishment, given the size of his fishbowl.
Now I’m not super well-versed in goldfish, but I’ve lived with Pierre long enough to recognize his basic states; when he’s happy, lazy, barely breathing (not cleaning the water often enough will do that to a fish). This time I was seeing a whole new emotion, panic.
Could it be true? Are goldfish more like people than we thought? Has Pierre become so set in his ways, so comfortable with his things the way that they’ve always been that change is enough to send him off the deep end?
Will he get used to his new home, or is it possible that THIS CHANGE could be enough to (gasp) be his demise?
And it makes me realize… we all have our moments like Pierre. Moments where our little fishbowl suddenly changes around us, sending us into a state of panic where we can hardly breathe from the sheer terror; the complete foreignness of it all. But we have a choice. Change is hard, sure, but swimming in circles around the top of the bowl isn’t going to get us anywhere. What if we DIVE IN… explore… it might actually be better!
You know, Pierre’s little experience isn’t so different from my transition from a career to staying at home… or bringing CJ home from the hospital… or the day I found out I was pregnant AND Jay lost his job. These things have a way of working out IF you work them out.
Yes, these are the thoughts that fill my mind while I’m half-heartedly picking up toys and folding laundry. Solving world hunger I am not. But where one little goldfish is concerned, at least I care. Sort of.
***
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Mother. Coffee drinker. Information seeker. Skeptic. Creative. Dreamer. Schemer. Absolutely Bananas.
By Mamma on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
Pierre. What a regal name. I had a beta at work named Frank. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.
So I’m not the only one who blogs in my head?
Hope Pierre is settling in. Maybe he was hoping for a castle.
By Lene on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
Aww what a lucky guy Pierre is to have such an accomodating owner!
Your right - he is an old bachelor set in his ways. Hopefully the ole’ guy will settle in!
By pixie on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
Awwww… this reminds me of a fish I had named Meyers. He lasted for over a year.
And I love the connection you made to us humans. Very true.
By Karen on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
Loved the story from the beginning and then you added the philosphical thing at the end and it just got better! How true!
My brother has a beta that freaks out whenever anything new is added to his tank! His name is Merlin. Sounds similar to your Pierre.
By Queen Heather on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
Great post!
I think things have a way of working out just because they do. Does it matter what we do or will things unfold as they may regardless? Hmmmm
I lurves a thinking blog!
By Cate on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
What an amazing post…I can really relate to this…I went from a 9-5 job in high-tech to being a SAHM. It was a really big change for me!
BTW, I smiled when I saw the title and subject of your post…I myself have just posted about goldfish….of the cracker kind!
By MommyMommy on Jun 15, 2007 | Reply
just pull the old ones out of the trash, and soak in bleach water over night, it will kill all the slimy stuff than rinse well and soak in water over night and voila clean and shiny ( you never knew I owned a tropical fish store in my past life, did you?)
By Shauna on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
Pierre is a lucky guy to have new digs. But, just in case, you might want to know where you can purchase Pierre’s twin…
Oh, and ditto Cate. I was thinking that, too!
By Laura on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
Great story! Loved the ending.
By moosh in indy. on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
you. are. brilliant.
By Jen Magnuson on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
How have you managed to keep a fish alive for a year?? That’s truly amazing. We kill fish. We’re fish murderers and should not be allowed to have them. Come to think of it, we’ve also managed to kill two frogs. It’s only mammals for us.
By Rosemarie on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
This is a great post with a life lesson. You’re going on a shout out!
Miscellaneous Matters
By Casmee on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
Love your post! our Bettas are very much like Pierre and can’t abide anythhing new in their home. We had to take out all the prett plants and the castle–which girlies found terribly disappointing.
By Rosemarie on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
Shout Out #3
You’ve been linked!
By Carla on Jun 16, 2007 | Reply
I love that you were excited for Pierre and his new fishthings! Sweet. Hope that fish rebounds.
By nell on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Poor Pierre. We have bad luck with goldfish at our house, but we never gave their tank a makeover either, so maybe once Pierre chills out he’ll be fine.
By Believer in Balance on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Great analogy! You really know your fish too! Our fish never lasted long enough to learn their habits. My hubby (a.k.a. Fish Killer) inadvertently killed eight fish over the span of two years, one in less than 24 hours. Something about the water/filter. Who knows! I can’t take the pressure of another fish.
By Mama Zen on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Great post! Hope Pierre makes it!
By shauna on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Send Pierre my best…
What a great post!
By Jenny on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Aww poor fishy. I hope he’s doing better now.
By Amber on Jun 17, 2007 | Reply
Do you not watch Nemo? Surely Life in the Tank would have taught you allllll about a fish’s wishes. Err…no rhyme intended.
By Pinks & Blues Girls on Jun 18, 2007 | Reply
Love the name Pierre… !!! We have a Sonny… a Midnight and Spots… and I know exactly what you mean!! Great post!!!
Love your blog!!
- Audrey
Pinks & Blues Girls
By tulipmom on Jun 19, 2007 | Reply
Love your fish’s name. Our fish, which Sweet Boy named Goldie (original, huh?)looked VERY silver when we got home today. Okay, so 3 days without food … does that make us fish murderers too? Sweet Boy has already told me he wants a frog when Goldie dies. Why oh why did I not ask our neighbor to feed the stinkin’ fish whiile we were gone?