Bartholomew...Our "Fish Out of Water"

There were no sushi jokes this morning, and no guessing how many aquarium pebbles were in his stomach, about this freak of nature that came to be our annoyingly loved pet. Two years ago last month, the 70 gallon aquarium was ready for inhabitants. From all we had read, getting a goldfish to "test the water" before spending money on the more pricey fish was recommended.

Baby Bartholomew...the lone survivor!

Thanks to Auntie Betsy who was teaching in 4th grade that year, we had plenty of goldfish following their science unit studying goldfish and guppies. The goldfish we were told, would eat the guppies so when Dawn decided to put the guppies along with the goldfish (nine I believe there was) into the aquarium I didn't override the decision against my better judgement.

Long story short, instead of the goldfish eating the guppies, the guppies started nipping at the sides of the goldfish and when there were about three goldfish left Dawn finally got angry and scooped out all of the guppies and flushed them. After the drama of all of that, one lone goldfish survived. Our annoyingly beloved Bartholomew. I was sure I had blogged about him before this but going back through the archives I realized I haven't.

Bartholemew...about 10 inches long

This morning our pet was floating lifeless in the tank. So, I guess it is during this eulogy that I tell you a little about him. We have always talked about that dumb fish that just kept on living. He was like a dog, every time Dawn would come over to the tank to feed the fish, he would swim around crazy-like and splash up out of the water. He ate EVERYTHING! (Including a couple of his roomates which was NOT an endearing quality).

Bartholemew and Link

I would say "one day we will come home and he will be dead on the floor" since the tank doesn't have a lid. Seriously, he would jump up out of the water practically eating out of her hand if she let him. We would also say stuff like "when Bartholomew dies we are going to cut him open to see how many of the aquarium pebbles are in his belly". David would joke about sushi and talk about how he is too big to flush.

Seen in the background, the orange streak
Bartholemew heard the Grinch for his first
time!

You see, this wasn't an ordinary goldfish. He was loved (you know, like how Clifford the big red dog grew because of Emily-Elizabeth's love for him). I truly think that Dawn's aquarium is the heaven on earth for water creatures. During the sad goodbye this morning, She weighed and measured him and he was 14.4 ounces and 12 inches long. Thankful for the late start of school, she was able to put him in a ziplock and put him outside the back door. She decided she would bury him in the backyard after school.

Finding a spot to dig

And, that is what she did. We both did actually. The ground is frozen you know. So some water was put on to boil and we found a spot at the edge of the garden where we no longer plant things because it is too shady there in the summer now that the tree has grown so big.

A pretty cold day to be digging a hole!

Good-bye's are not easy

There were not many words to say other than he was a great fish and we will actually miss him. Our hands were freezing and here we were when today and tomorrow both late starts. Cold enough for late starts and we are out digging a hole in our frozen tundra, all for the love of a fish, our Fish Out Of Water. I bought that silly children's book for Dawn this Christmas and wrote endearingly in the front a special note to tell her that I love how she loves her water creatures. If you are a fish, a snail or actually a plant of any kind (because she has quite a green thumb) and you happen into Dawn's care, you will live the very best life on earth that is possible.

Marking the spot so we can find it
this spring

Sad day

As I hugged her this morning I told her that every word in that note is still true and that Bartholemew did truly have a great life in her care. Despite the sushi jokes and the guessing how many pebbles in his belly (he would suck up a pebble and then spit it out) we will miss him. Boy was he annoying. (He ate a couple of Dawn's tetras we are almost positive) and he was a big bully to the littler fish, a few who are still after a day without him in there cowering in the corner of the huge tank to stay out of his way. He and Link (Dawn's plecko) finally settled on a love/hate relationship.

He hadn't been eating much if anything the last few days and so I wondered if he was not doing well. It is funny how many times I glance over there to see the orange streak in the aquarium. I did it probably 20 times every time I walked into the living room today, only to remember he isn't there anymore. It is a big tank to fill. I am sure that there will be new inhabitants to join the three that still remain.