Waiting for the Miracle

His name was Juaquin (pronounced Wah-keen).
About 10 years ago, I rescued this fish from a woman I worked with. She had "won" him in a raffle.

We all need proper care and tending.
I relate to the "fishbowl" experience. The sad thing about these Beta fish, is that there is a lot of misinformation on how to care for them. They DO need their water changed frequently, you DO have to test and correct the pH of the water, you DO have to feed them Beta food, they cannot live on plants, etc., etc.

Love is reciprocal with just a little time and attention
He lived with Him and me for 3 1/2 years, a long time for Betas. It was important to us to give him proper care.

Amazingly, and I did not expect this from a fish, but Juaquin became sheer delight to me. He would see me come up to his bowl and practically wag his tail off. He would leap up and kiss (bite) my fingers as I would sprinkle in his food pellet. He was absolutely hilarious too. Such a personality in an odd little fish. We loved watching him, and I believe he loved watching us too.

I couldn't wait to see him when I came home from work, and he was ecstatic.

He left my heart wounded in a way I had not experienced before.
He lived for about 3 months after I first noticed he was "sick." I have had sick pets before, but this one I couldn't physically, tenderly hold, and spoon feed, and caress in his sickness. I could only watch and say soothing sounds. There was nothing I could do to make it better. I cried/sobbed.

Not being able to physically help or even comfort the situation was painful and was a new experience to me. Ultimately, Juaquin was freed from the confines of his bowl, and that makes me very happy. There are always blessings in woundedness, and in tears. I'll probably never bring home another beta though, at least not anytime soon.

I hope this doesn't seem like a sad story, it is not. I love my memories of Juaquin, and I learned a lot about Love and commitment from the little guy - we will be together in spirit forever.

"Juaquin in a Winter Wonderland"
I so love this photo. It is one of many. One year, Him and I decorated the area around Juaquin's bowl and took several pictures. We have used them as our Christmas cards.

"Time for Different"
Advent is a time for different way of looking at everything; a time of expectant waiting for something miraculous to come.

Peace
Keren