Eyes sparkling, giggles and smiles held in, two tow-headed boys and their parents watched me in anticipation of what I would do or say when I opened the small, but heavy, Christmas bag.  Trying to reach in and get a hold of it, I couldn’t get it out…clear, plastic and heavy covered in red tissue paper.  The 13 year old jumped up to help, holding the bag while I lifted it out:  a container, filled with water was holding a bright blue baby Beta fish.  I was not only surprised, but thrilled!

Last year I lost my dear friend Lizzie, a beautiful tri-colored Corgi.  It was hard.  The boys seeing the vacancy in the pet arena of our lives have been searching tirelessly for the perfect dog to replace her.  They’ve come up with quite a lot to choose from ranging from Yorki-poo to Affen..something or other.  The hope was that by Christmas time I would be adequately healed and finally in the market for a new dog.  Alas, I’ve tried to convince them, and more importantly myself, that no, I’m not ready to give my heart away again just yet.

Hence, the fish.  The family explained in detail that this was a tester pet, to see if I was ready for a new doggie yet.  They thought that if I could handle the emotional responsibilities of handling the tiny fish, then maybe I could gradually warm up to the idea of a new dog.  So far, I’m not sure!!

Naming the fish, of course, became the first issue.  Shamu?  Killer?  Sparky?  Well, since he’s a boy fish, delivered at Christmas time, I decided a Christmas name would be best.  That only led to oh, so many more choices!  The top three names were finally voted on with two abstentions; the final count coming in to name my new baby “Herald.”  You know for “Hark the herald angels sing!”  I think its perfect!

Harold sits on the kitchen counter and eats baby fish food.  I tried moving him to my desk where I sit most of the day, but he didn’t like it all.  I also tried giving him grown-up fish food, but he didn’t like that either.  So, now his home is on the counter, beside the stove to keep warm, and he happily continues to eat his baby food.

Every morning I go in and switch the kitchen light on.  That’s when Herald wakes up.  He sees me coming close and swims over to the side of the bowl, fluffs out his tiny little fins and flutters them furiously trying to get my attention.  I lift off the lid and sprinkle in some food and he swims toward swallows it quickly.  We are both happy.  I’m happy to be greeted so excitedly first thing in the morning, and Herald is…well, I guess just happy to be fed!