Three Weeks

Matt took Jillian to the fair exactly three weeks ago. It was only just today that I was able to convince her (read bribe) to let me cut the admission bracelet off. For some reason this was a beautiful accessory to her, but to us, she looked like a college kid proud of a late night at a club.

Unfortunately, just three short weeks after the fair, her beloved goldfish, Dorothy, died. I discovered Dorothy floating around the tank yesterday afternoon and immediately e mailed Matt. Here was our actual correspondence:

me: i think dorothy is dead. if she's not, she's close. she is in the bottom corner of the tank (still upright), but not moving. i tapped the tank, etc. nothing. i can't tell if the movement in her fins is by her intention or just the movement of the water from the filter. in any case, i will leave it up to you to decide if we get to have the "everything dies' discussion, or if we do a switch-out while she sleeps. your call, dad!

Matt: I say we tell her.

So, we did. When we went up for bath Matt sat her down and we explained what happened. She had trouble understanding why Dorothy got sick (like if she did something wrong) and had lots of questions about "fish heaven". Matt told her we needed to flush Dorothy down the toilet, and Jillian said she wanted to do it. We gathered in the bathroom, Matt said a prayer, and then we sent Dorothy on her way. Then true emotion set in for Jillian and she lost it. There we all were in the bathroom, crying over this goldfish (Jillian because she wanted a fish, and Matt and I because our child was so sad). Matt promised her a new fish, and I told her we would get the picture of she and Dorothy printed and find a frame so she could put it in her room. She liked this idea and so we made it our mission today. Dorothy is now memorialized in a pink glittery frame on Jillian's nightstand. I am sure we will start this whole cycle over again once the new fish is purchased!