Goodbye, fish

October 9, 2007 at 11:08 PM

My coworker's goldfish was just found dead. I happened to have my violin with me at work today, so upon request by our HR manager, I took it out. She held the little creature in a net, and I played "Taps" as we led a stream of colleagues to the ladies' restroom, where we said some words of goodbye and flushed it down to fish heaven.

Rest in peace, fish.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on October 9, 2007 at 11:17 PM

A tiny flame snuffed.

From E. Smith
Posted on October 9, 2007 at 11:33 PM

I wish our fish would die so we could have a nice watery funeral. He's five years old already (a beta). Our animals live forever-- the guinea pig lived to be nine.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on October 9, 2007 at 11:50 PM

Must be pretty boring there if you're wishing your pets would die.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 12:01 AM

When I was nine, our family pet cat Tigger was hit by a car and killed. I played Taps for him on my violin after my father buried him in the backyard. It's a nice thing to do--even when you're older than nine.

From Albert Justice
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 12:45 AM

I shall play Humoresque--twice--tonight, on this occasion. ;)

From Sydney Menees
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 1:11 AM

Haha! That's great use of a violin during the work day!

From Patricia Baser
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 1:18 AM

Then it's truly ironic that before reading your blog that I created a circle the answer workwheet where one of the incorrect choices for the definition of "bel canto" was "dead fish".

From E. Smith
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 2:24 AM

Jim, you didn't know that guinea pig. He was pure evil.

When our Yorkie died, we dug a grave in the woods, lined it with flowers and Southern magnolia leaves, and placed her (shrouded in a silk scarf) inside. Then one of the kids played a slow Bach movement on viola and we tossed in more flowers. Our labrador retriever let out a moan and tried to throw herself into the grave (truly.) Just so you don't think we're heartless.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 3:11 AM

The lab wasn't grieving. He figured he must be dead too. That's how dumb they are. I had one.

From Ihnsouk Guim
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 3:08 AM

I am reading Karin's post again and again thinking I am missing something. But the inevitable truth seems to be. . . the fish was sent to where?

Ihnsouk

From E. Smith
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 3:50 AM

Jim, you have a point about the lab. My neighbors used to call her "the lawn potato." She was so dumb, we could not teach her to fetch. But she was smart enough to howl whenever anyone played double-stops.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 4:11 AM

That was, indeed, a great use of your violin at work.

When I first tried it, I was surprised at how good Taps sounds on the violin. Now I play it on appropriate (emotionally) occasions, and I think it communicates feelings very well.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 10:50 AM

Ihnsouk, all drains lead to the ocean.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 3:19 PM

You guys are funny! Jim, I can't believe you have a lab. What were you thinking?

From Karin Lin
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 5:21 PM

Wow, I really didn't expect to see so many comments for this little post. Thanks, everyone. Yes, I was happy that I happened to have my violin at work (for a lunchtime makeup lesson) and could do that.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 6:17 PM

Karin, this is such a great story/image. (Don't know whether to chuckle now or bow my head in respect, tho!)

From Karin Lin
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 8:10 PM

Heh, Terez. Well, we didn't either...we were laughing at ourselves as we were doing it, but there was actually something a little bit moving about our makeshift ceremony.

From Karin Lin
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 8:38 PM

Karen...I meant to respond directly to your post as well. I didn't have that much attachment to this fish, obviously, but I think it's wonderful what you did for your pet cat who must have been a much larger part of your life. I hope that helped the little 9-year-old girl with some of her grief.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 2:56 AM

"actually something a little bit moving about our makeshift ceremony. "

The presence of music led you momentarily into the pre-cellular, molecular, vibrational, 5th level of consciousness, the soul, bringing you to the realization that all is one by virtue of a billion years of shared genetics, the very stuff of life itself - of course it was moving. But that glimpse doesn't survive when confronted by the symbol-based consciousness of modern society, which may chuckle it away because it's bothersome - unless one can recognize it for what it is. Ahem. No, really.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 9:16 AM

I have a lab. He's a genius. Id on't know what I'll do when he dies, since I've been stealing all my stories from him.

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on October 12, 2007 at 1:11 AM

Emily, he is a lab? He really does look a lot smarter than all the labs I've met. He gives a bad name I'd say:)

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