The Story of Net

[baka_na_haha]

I was feeding the fish this morning and was struck with how long we have had our one last fish - a catfish called "Net". Many years ago, we had an aquarium filled with brightly-colored, pretty fish. There was a cold spell where our electricity was out for over a week, and the fish didn't survive. So, after the electricity came back on, we went with Lauren and Casey (yes, it was so long ago that they were still virtually part of our family) to buy new fish. We picked some brightly-colored, pretty ones, a Chinese algae eater, and a catfish. When using the little net to dump the fish into the aquarium, the catfish got totally caught in the net. The only way we could get him out was to cut the net and he swam around for years with a piece of net attached to his fin. Hence, his name Net.

Many years have passed and our whole family has lost any interest we ever had in the aquarium. All the pretty fish passed away, as fish do, and we all decided that we would get rid of the aquarium as soon as the fish all died. For the past couple of years, there has just been Net and the Chinese algae eater - finally, the Chinese algae eater died and now Net is all by himself.

The kids were always great about feeding the fish 2 times a day, at the same times when they feed the dogs. Not too tough a chore. Now that the kids are around much less, J and I handle the chores much of the time and we are rotten about remembering to feed the fish. Net does get fed, but each of us has to check up on the other: "Did you feed the fish?", "Oops, no, thanks for reminding me".

Watching Net this morning, I was wondering what it would feel like to have no one really care anymore or even remember that I existed. I don't imagine that Net really cares one way or another or that he actually misses the other fish (they certainly didn't seem to interact). Let's face it - he never had much of a life anyway. Yet he hangs in there, keeps growing, and swims around just like he always has. It may not even be sad, since that's all he has ever known. It just makes me wonder . . . Hopefully, not the start of an existential crisis here.

Monday, July 11:
J - 8
B - 8

Comments

[fantwurm.livejournal.com]

From your breif description I imagine a human Net would be an ugly old geezer to stubborn to die, even if someone actually tried to kill him. I don't think he's the type to need a lot of love. Of course, this is only from your story, but that's how I picture it.

[baka-na-haha.livejournal.com]

I agree - that's exactly what Net would be like. But, as I get older, I start to think about what it would be like to be a cranky old geezer (which is becoming less and less of a stretch). Do they need/want/deserve love, too? Does anyone actually feel ready to die?

See, I'm at risk for getting existential . . .

[fantwurm.livejournal.com]

With your kids, I don't see you becoming a cranky old geezer anytime soon. A crazy old geezer, quite possibly.

[baka-na-haha.livejournal.com]

Thanks, fantwurm - I think . . .

[http://users.livejournal.com/_skye_/]

Dude, you totally gave ME a crisis, there.

I'm off to affect the only cure: making chocolate chip cookies with small children.

Make mine a double, and hold the walnuts.