The Best Fish Name Ever!!!

Really missing Emery today.  He's only been gone since Monday, but I'm already looking forward to Friday when I get him for a night again.  Summer is going by too soon.

I forgot a large part of our family here (all puns intended if you know who I'm talking about) and two newcomers to the gang as well.  First, the senior of the house, Penny the beagle.  She is 11 years and is currently retired from most things considered "canine."  Her responsibilities around the house are to ensure that a nap can be taken on any surface at any given time, she helps make sure everything that is edible is eaten as swiftly as possible, and sometimes barks at the raccoons that live in the trees behind our house.  She sounds pretty tough so long as they do not actually show themselves, in which case she immediately bolts back to the door.  At first I thought she was afraid of them, but now I'm positive she is faking sleep so that she can ambush the raccoons if they break in.

Our newest additions to the household are our second generation of goldfish.  The first pair passed away before the move, but last weekend I took the boys out to find new ones.  Gunner's fish is the black one you probably can't see and his fish is named either Batman or Nightwing depending on the day, both of which are fitting I believe.  Emery had a really hard time deciding on a definitive name, it came down to a tough choice. Gunner (or Bunny as he is known affectionately here) knew right away that his new friend would have alternating names, no matter the fact that I told him he might confuse Batman/Nightwing, Em labored over the pressure in the store and on the way to the car.


"Dad, I'm thinking it should be Sparky."

"Okay, Sparky's cool."

*Looking carefully at his swimmy pet*

"No, no, he's says that's not right.  Maybe Smarty?" Em continued, "Cuz my fish is so smart and has a big brain."


"Yeah that makes sense to me, Em."

Bunny also thought that Smarty should be the winner, after all how cool is it to have a fish with intelligence?  I strapped my dynamic duo in and we began to pull out of the parking lot to go surprise Abby with roses and the new fish when Em yelled "DAD!!!" as if I'd just backed over an old lady pushing a stroller.  My heart stopped as I halted the car and spun to see what I was hitting.  Nothing.

Just Em looking proud and holding his fish up toward my panicked face, while Bunny, clearly in the know, smiled and nodded his head telling his older brother "good name, M'ree."

"Dancin' Man."  Em said.

"What?  What are you talking about?"

"That's his name, my fish, is Dancin' Man."


I started to say something in my stern and fatherly, don't-scare-the-shit-outta-Daddy-while-he's-driving voice, but any paternal scolding power I had was neutralized instantly by Bunny's admiration for the name and Em's hopeful eyes searching for my opinion on the name.  I was incapable to do anything except smile and say,

"Dancin' Man is the best name for a fish I've ever heard, buddy."