On pets ....

Our pets, we sure love them don't we?

Chester was our dog of a lifetime.  The best boy ever and he was spoiled. He had a special bed in our room, one in the tv room and one that covered the entire back seat of the car so that he had ample room while travelling in style.  He had winter boots straight from the Yukon, the kind sled dogs wear.   I used to make his dog food for him, no, not just kibble into a bowl, I made it from scratch.  His bowl was in the shape of a crown. Charley eats out of it when she comes to stay now.  

Our Chester was very talented and could, when he was young, climb the ladder of the toddler play structure at the park.  He could be, I shouldn't speak ill of my boy, but truthfully he could be dumb as a hammer too.  He couldn't catch and he couldn't fetch.  But we loved him.  Oh how we loved him.   From time to time we talk about getting another dog, but it's hard, because he was so special to us and I worry that our hearts might not love another as much as we loved that hairy spoiled goofball.

I just realized this is one of those posts where you might be getting suspicious and starting to say to yourself, "Oh I bet she's getting another dog."  And you're getting all excited.  

No, no that's not it.  I am not saying never again, because we have this feeling that someday when we least expect it our next dog is going to find us.   But not just yet.  

In the meantime, I have to remember that I do have another pet.  And I say "I", because this is not a family pet.  Whenever I mention this particular pet to Barry he says, "What?  We have a fish?" or "Fish, for dinner? Sure."  It drives me crazy because he's pulling my leg but there's a ring of truth, he's really not that attached to the fish.   And I fear, I'm not really that attached to him either.

Poor fish.   He is nameless.  

This fish has one wish.

What does fish wish for, you ask?

A name?  No.

He wishes for visitors because lately the only time I ever clean his bowl 

is when we're expecting company.   

So, he'd love you to visit.  Because, you know, it's time ....

xo

Kath

Comments

[margie]

oh, look at that beautiful photo of my nephew. yes, my children called him cousin chester. kath would get so mad at me when i referred to her as chester's mother. i don't know why, charley calls me mommy. xo

[ELK]

so wonderful Kath...handsome boy and I know he was well loved...Sam is our third, it was so sad to say those first two goodbyes...

[CindyP]

Your heart will handle it. I have said "no more pets" twice now.....now I have 2 "kids" and I love them as much as the first one! Chester wouldn't want you to be childless now you know.......

and ah, the fish....I acquired one when my niece was on Christmas break from college and couldn't leave the fish there... it was supposed to be a babysitting stunt -- that was 3 years ago........Flo is mine now. and no, you can't fall in love with a fish as easily as a dog. The grandkids love him, so he stays here. I was thinking about giving him to my grandson, but the other one would be upset, so again Flo stays!

[vchelle]

Look at that face on Chester! He was beautiful! I can see how you feel that it will take time to open your heart to another pet..

I was laughing so hard about your pet fish! Poor thing.. Call him "Boy." or "Girl."

[Georgia]

awwww . . . poor little guy. a nameless lonely fish. :(

actually, it made me smile. and so did chester. oh, my goodness. he is one cute dog. i want one! some day.

[julz]

No idea you had a fish. None. But Chester was my favorite:)

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

Good thing beta's can live in murky water :)

I had a beta that I LOVED he was awesome.....when I left to have neck surgery...they had a temp girl working here for the month that I was out.....the DAY I came back to work....HE DIED....

I was crushed. I cried like a baby. He was really awesome. His name was Master....the Master Beta....hehe

[geogypsy]

Peng is mythical, Chinese fish that can turn into bird. When they fly, their wings look like colourful clouds in the sky. (Peng symbolizes ambitions and great accomplishment, no wonder so many Chinese leaders have gone by the name)

Ikaroa is a Maori fish, mother-goddess who is accredited with giving birth to the Milky Way. (Would your male beta be affronted by a female name?)

Info taken from wikipedia.

Then there's;
Leviathin, Nessy, Oceanus, Apsu, Poseidon, Atlantis, Proteus, Pisces etc etc.

Mr. Finny isn't so bad either. lol

Good luck.

[Veach]

'The right one will find you' ...Those are also my exact thoughts. I wrote a post about Gus, my last pet, trying to explain his connection to me.

[Toni]

Oh, that is too funny! The fish part, not the Chester part. It is hard losing a pet (a cat) and you think that there can't be room in your heart for another, and then time passes and in comes a cat and then a dog - a dog! - and life is never the same again. And then pretty soon your co-worker is giving away his googly-eyed Boston Terrier and you've spent some time with him and he's sweet and you think he will be good company for the first dog, but you'll never love him like the first dog, but soon you love him just as much. Hearts expand.

Name your fish Cheetos. =)

[Se'Lah]

Ok. A name will do this beautiful betta well. It may begin the process of attachment ;-)

Would love to visit soon, but in the meantime, betta needs a name. My hubby and daughter each have a betta. His name is "Bird" and her name is "Belle". We bought a divided tank so they can keep each other's company. Now, there's another idea...more work...2 fishes (LOL)

[Wanda]

I've never owned a fish. Somehow, my idea of a pet is one that I can snuggle up to. I'm just sayin'...

[CarrieJ]

What a lovely boy you had! Chester is so handsome. We are slowly running out of excuses not to get a dog, but not yet. I have to wait until little man won't get knocked sideways. I hope we get a sweetheart like Chester!

[Gayle]

Oh, Chester was such a sweet, handsome boy. I'm sorry that he isn't with you anymore.

I must say I am the same way with our fish. Their tank is not often clean, but they have lived so long I know it's not hurting them! I love the ideas from geogypsy for a name!

[Lori]

My condolences on your loss of Chester. He looks like he was a handsome devil. I know I can be as dumb as a hammer sometimes too. Your fish is gorgeous.

[Kiley]

I think I would have loved Chester.

How come I've never seen this fish?