goodbye to the fish in the trifle dish

Today marks the final swim in the life of Sherry, the fish who lives in my trifle dish.

She has spent her whole 3 years and 5 months as a resident of the Williams family trifle dish.

Over two months ago, we had our first scare that Sherry the Fish was on her last swim. She was floating sideways on the top of the water... we immediately changed her water out, with no obvious changes in her behavior... and decided she'd be gone by morning.

But she wasn't.

Then last week, she was on the marbles, very still, and we decided she was on her last swim.. but again, we changed the water, convinced she'd be gone by morning.

But she wasn't.

However, Sunday, she returned to the bottom of the marbles and her gill movement was very slow. We changed her water.... no change... around 5 p.m., I changed it again... no change.

She was gone by 7.

When we got home Monday we told Hayley - she reacted MUCH better than expected. She decorated her medicine bottle casket, slipped on her favorite fancy shoes, and placed Sherry in her final resting spot (after a quick photo op) and placed the bulldog over the site. (probably, a little large of a headstone for such a tiny fish). Michael asked if they wanted to pray and she said "Yes, you pray daddy... you are the FISH MAN!"

This morning, Bowen asked "Is Sherry still dead?" to which I replied yes. And she replied "And she'll stay dead?" to which I said "Yes." That seemed to satisfy her.