Another Loss

Though not quite as traumatic as the passing of my lifelong cat-friend Max, I have some sad news, today. Cliff and I have owned a Betta fish (also named "Max" - short for "Maximus Euripedes Neeley, III) since January 5, 2005. We found him one day while browsing a pet store in Cleveland over our first Christmas break, just a month and a half after we started dating. He was the brightest fiery red and had a personality to match, and we quickly agreed to purchase him and set up one of those "vase homes" for him to live in.

Max admittedly spent most of his time at Cliff's apartment, but at times we would trade him back and forth and called him "ours." He was a good fish, has journeyed miles in a Styrofoam cooler we tote him around in, and has lived in four good homes, three belonging to either Cliff or me, and one where Max's "mom" and "dad" were finally married and living together.

Cliff and I had noticed over the last couple of days that Max wasn't eating very well. We changed his water yesterday, in hopes that it might clear the air and rejuvenate him some, but it was just his time. I found him a few minutes ago, called Cliff, and we're planning a "memorial" for him when Cliff gets home from work.

I think we're both a little sad, but we haven't shed any tears and probably won't. It's just such a different experience for me, this time around, whether because of the reality of pet-loss or because of the different natures of the relationship with both pets. I guess that's just the difference between grief and sadness in loss, and I'm okay with that.