A Tribute to Bling-bling

It is with deepest sorrow that I sit down and write this eulogy in memory of a dearly loved member of our family. I did not get to write about him when he first came into our lives so I feel I must do him this honor now that he is departed.

Bling-bling came into our lives a short two months ago on November 2, 2006. He was my daughter's first pet. She chose him out of dozens of other fish she could have had, then lovingly picked out a home for him and stones to cover his floor and plants to make him feel at home. I was so proud of her when she made him her responsibility and fed him carefully and took care of him. They soon became good friends. Before long the whole family fell in love with him and he became part of our family.

Bling-bling was not an ordinary fish. He was a handsome betta fish, with scales of amethyst and mother of pearl, and fins of the bluest sapphire. It was because of this jewel-like beauty that my daughter named him "Bling-bling". He was not a timid fish, like so many others who go into hiding whenever someone approaches, but a friendly happy fish. He eagerly swam up to greet us whenever we came near, his tail fin wagging excitedly like a puppy's tail. Full of life, he entertained us with his animated personality, showing off and playfully nipping at my fingers when I put them in the water. He brought us such joy.

During Christmas time we had to leave him in the care of a young girl while we traveled for the holidays. I'm sure she took good care of him, but when we returned and brought him back home, he was not the same. He was no longer the happy, energetic little fish he was when we left. Now he was sad and sick. What happened to our poor little Bling-bling? Did he think we had abandoned him and become sick from a broken heart? He had such a healthy appetite before and now he refused to eat anything. I tried to nurse him back to health. I sat by him, minutes at a time, trying to coax him to eat, offering encouragement, but to no avail.

He was brave to the very end. I could tell he was trying to get better. He made feeble attempts to wag his tail fin for me and even tried to swim in circles, but his movements were jerky and slow. Finally, last night, I made what became my last attempt to feed him. He was near the bottom of the bowl and made a valiant swim to the top. But it was too much for him and he nose-dived back to the bottom, his nose buried in the stones below. He tried one more time and could not make it.

This morning I checked on him but he was gone, standing on his nose between the branches of his plant. It was a heartbreaking sight. Tonight I will have to break the news to my daughter.

The funeral will be held this evening as we gather around to send him to his watery grave via the porcelain express. His life was too short.

Farewell, beloved Bling-bling. May you find peace in fish paradise where there are no predators and the clearest water and best fish food to make a fish happy. You will be missed.

* All condolences and flowers will be graciously accepted.

** Anyone who wishes to start a scholarship fund for the Alpha Betta School of Fighting Fish in honor of Bling-bling may do so with our blessing.

Bling-bling
Nov. 2, '06-Jan.11, '07
Beloved Fish