The tricky thing about goldfish

Once upon a time I took my three young children to the State Fair of Texas. Not all state fairs are fantastic, but the Texas one is - natch - huge. A panoply of overdressed chicks, new gadgets, expensive rides, colorful games and animals of every stripe. While doing the gaming booths, one of my brood won the grand prize: a pair of goldfish. Live ones. In a Ziploc, for Christ's sake

We were so excited to have these LIVE things as souvenirs. More excited than we were about the turkey legs, cotton candy and stuffed animals that are ubiquitous at these events. So, fine.

We walked the four miles back through the parking lot and made it to the pet store, where we spent about a thousand dollars on a bowl, some rocks, fantasy fish furniture, bubbly things to keep the water clear, and of course, fish food. These goldfish were going to have a great address. One thing you should know about me, i like everybody to live in a beautiful, nurturing environment.

We put the fish into the Better-homes-and-gardens bowl, filled with fresh water from the tap, and watched them awhile. Then i did what i always do: find dirty dishes and food products to manage. By the time dinner was ready, our prize fish were belly up.

Sometimes i just don't ask the right questions, and in my detailed investigation of aesthetics and the nuance of fish beauty, i overlook other details: turns out, goldfish have a really, really hard time with temperature change. like, a fatally hard time. Terminal time.

Even little changes are really really hard when they involve our daily environment. Sudden change, that's a bitch. But i learned something then: invisible things matter a lot. And patience really is a virtue. We couldn't save those fish, but we did better with a second set. I think humans are more resilient, but often in my professional work i see people suffering in their daily environments, while their leaders give them all the food they know how to give; but it's not the same. The right environment is sensitive, subtle, and balanced. It's not about more, it's about fit. Fish, and fit. Makes for better swimming time.