while waiting for what I believe is Jason's inevitable farewell -- and speaking of tanks

I've always held a firm line on pets. Firm being a relative term meaning as many kittens and puppies as you want, but NO:

1. reptiles
2. birds
3. fish
4. amphibians
5. rodents

Somehow to me if a thing has to be caged (or in the case of fish, tanked) it really shouldn't be pet material. Birds gotta fly.... fish gotta swim.....rodents gotta escape and climb up my leg. It's what they were born to do, and that's why they are not allowed in my home.

I have a good friend, Laura, and she is just a saint when it comes to allowing all manner of beasties to dwell in her house. They once had for a pet, and I promise you I am not making this up, a hairless rat. Yes, they did. Until it developed lesions or boils or something tumor-esque and they had to do away with it. Which her husband did by beheading it with a shovel. Can I get an "eeeeeuuuwww?"

So I experienced a bit of displeasure when Susannah received for her birthday -- from her biggest brother who should know better -- a fish tank complete with four fish. I told her in no uncertain terms that I wanted NOTHING to do with them. I didn't want to hear about them. I wouldn't be feeding them. I didn't want to know about them. I wasn't going to spend any money on them.

Today is the second day in a row now that we've had to endure the inevitable farewell (see how I tie this all in?) to a fish. First it was Benji, and now today, Bob. Bob who was her favorite fish EVER.

I wish I could work up more sympathy. But isn't it to be expected? Don't balloons either pop or float away? Don't juice boxes always always always squirt when you put the straw in? Don't bubbles always spill? Don't goldfish always die?

What are your rules for pets? Am I the only ogre mom out there?

We'll miss you, Missy Cat

We found this kitty in the woods about 13 years ago. She's been a good cat, for the most part. I had a feeling her 9th life was coming to a close yesterday, and today she passed gently from this world to wherever it is that kitties go.

I'll leave that to the theologians and animal lovers to figure out. There's some stark disagreement even among members of this family. I'm pretty sure that for Susannah, at least, Missy is romping in warm, green, mouse-bountiful meadows. I'm certainly not going to do anything to discourage that comforting image.

I have a feeling Susannah will grieve the hardest of us all, as she was her bed-mate for years.