Cleo

Cleo died a couple of days ago. Cleo was our 2-year-old beta fish. We had his funeral this morning. Kate named Cleo after watching Pinocchio for the first time about a year ago. Before that, he didn't have a name. The kids were great at feeding Cleo. Kate like to talked to Cleo. I changed his water periodically.

He's been sick for about a month. He couldn't always swim up to the surface for food and didn't always catch it on its way down. I could never decide whether to help him expire or just wait for it to happen. Lack of action meant that it just happened.

During our funeral we gave James and Kate a chance to say something about or to Cleo. Kate said she already said goodbye. According to her, she said, "Goodbye, Cleo." Cleo said, "Goodbye, Kate." "And then he died." James hopes Cleo is happy in Heaven and was glad he was in our family for a while. James cried. A lot.

James wanted to help dig a hole and bury Cleo. I guess we've started our pet cemetery now. There's a giant stone marking Cleo's spot.

Kate didn't show too much emotion, but when everything was finished, she asked Ben to "Put on my happy songs." Quite some time ago, Ben put together a playlist of Kate's favorite songs. When she's sad for whatever reason, we play her happy songs and everybody dances. It was a good time for her happy songs.

Rest in peace, Cleo.

(Incidentally, our crabs died while Ben and I were on our vacation last month. Kate took them outside and forgot to bring them inside. It was too cold for them. Neither Kate or James seemed moved one way or another and there was no burial ceremony.)