Like a Fish Out of Water.

Once upon a time, about 2 weeks ago, a family moved from Philadelphia to the coastal town of Portland.  Since the father’s new work would only pay for a U-Haul (*NOT MOVERS*), the family schlepped all their belongings the best they could in the back of a 26 Ft truck.

uhaul

The youngest daughter’s beloved goldfish were of course making the trip too,

sunnyblackie2

safely snuggled inside the *protective glass cocoon* of their aquarium.

The family’s trip began swimmingly, fueled by gasoline and a dozen Dunkin Donuts. But round about Marlborough Massachusetts, the mother – driving behind the U-Haul in the family car – began to notice water dripping from the back of the truck.  Frantically, she tried calling the father.  But the deafening road noise of the uncomfortable U-Haul thwarted her attempts for MILES.  By the time the father realized what had happened, the family was nearly to Maine.  And soon they were there, opening the back of the truck and confirming their worst fears.  The aquarium had indeed shattered and was completely devoid of water.  The little girl was devastated.

Until Goldfish #1 was found… ALIVE!!!!!!! After two hours without water, being jostled at the bottom of a glass-laden fish tank, Lil’ Blackie was still clinging to life!  The father whisked him TOUT DE SUITE upstairs to the (relative) safety of the only bowl available in the apartment BESIDES THE TOILET.  The dog’s food dish.  Although shaken just this side of the pearly gates and visibly worse for the wear, miracle fish BLACKIE was still gulping for breath and rallying as each moment passed.

BUT. what of the SECOND FISH>??  What about _SUNNY_?!

Do not lose heart, friends.  Despite the fact that Disney did NOT write this one, there still remains a happy ending.  Although the initial search for Sunny proved fruitless, and the family believed they would stumble upon her lifeless body beneath one of the soggy boxes, that’s NOT WHAT HAPPENED>.  No.  B/c as the mother attempted to lift the shattered remains of the aquarium out of the truck, Sunny POPPED out of the inner workings of a DECORATIVE PAGODA!!

pagoda

Everyone GASPED! And the father squealed like a girl as he giddily ran the fish upstairs.  Although Sunny appeared to have survived a blender cycle on Frappe, she was otherwise just fine. After being transferred to the red thermos cooler overnight, by the next afternoon, both fish were pronounced Stunned, but Swimming.  And by the following day, they’d been upgraded to STABLE and safely relocated to their new home.

tank

Not so unlike the rest of the family.

The End.

14 thoughts on “Like a Fish Out of Water.

  1. HAH! Thanks Bouncy babe. After the tank shattered, we had to hand-pick every single one of those colorful “jewels” from the mess of the former tank. But Georgia was ELATED. Glad it was worth the work!!

  2. SERIOUSLY we could not believe it either. I could only conclude they’d somehow gotten trapped w/ a bubble of water round their heads, or something – anything – like that. How else/?? John kept making comments re: the effect of oxygen deprivation on a goldfish’s mind – w/ lots of googly sound effects. But no joke, after a few days you’d never have known what these 2 poor fish had gone through. Their capacity to survive is remarkable. GO! MIRACLE FISH!!

    PS: Laura, I have no idea what that smiley face is for – I never have. But just asked the IT Master and he says if you right click on it and view the link location, it tracks stats. News to me.

  3. okay. are you trying to tell me you just shoved a full aquarium in the back of a moving truck? are you joking?! even i, princess of the world, would not do that! i’d put them in a tupperware container WITH lid to prevent agonizing death.

    you are unfit goldfish parents!!!!

  4. I KNOW – it is CRAZY!

    And NOooOOoOOooo!! We did NOT just shove the full tank in. What do we look like – AMATEURS?! Don’t answer that, Curly.

    The tank was mostly drained, and John had it specially positioned. Obviously we did not pad well enough. By a long shot. Next time the fish will ride in the car w. me in a pickle jar. And just for the record: A CLEAN pickle jar. Lest you envision them floating between the pickles in a yellowish brine.

    PS: How’s da sunshine, candy queen??

  5. I SOOOO KNOWWW I should not be laughing so hard, however it sounds like a scene from NEMO!!!!!! I guess it is your presentation…you are too funneeee. More importantly though is the fact that Georgia is a happy girl and the fish survived…I find that totally unbelievable…I cannot keep fish alive no matter what and your fish…hmpf…survive a trip from Philly! Cue oldie music…yoooouuuvve got the magic touch lalalala

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