The wisdom of Ted Nugent

After a relaxing but fairly uneventful weekend, I wondered what to write about.   Unfortunately, the universe decided for me.  

My goldfish took a turn for the worse last night.  I waited for nature to run its course.  I don't believe in euthanasia.  If it's so humane, why won't they allow us to do it to ourselves.  My personal spiritual beliefs don't award me the authority to decide if something should live or die.  I use live traps, I catch bugs.  Don't get me wrong, I have a contract with Terminix to keep these critters out.  Deep down I know they are dying, but since it is hidden, I can imagine they are just repelled by the chemicals.  

I grew up on a farm and death was a part of life.   Back then, it didn't bother me.  Since I have become removed from rural life and gotten a little older, mortality is something I greatly ponder.  Death has become something that I almost cannot deal with any longer.  I personally blame factory farms.   I go to the store and buy nice little packages of cows.  No longer do we have to look our food in the face and make a decision between tonights tacos and a life.   Ted Nugent once said that everyone should have to kill their meal at least once.  That way you understand the sacrifice being made.  I agree.  Still, death is something that I am not comfortable with especially if I am the reaper.

So here I am with a suffering goldfish.  Nature is letting me down.  He lays at the bottom and gasps for air.  Reluctantly, I research the most humane way to euthanize a fish.  Decapitation seems to be the most agreed upon method.  So, I get my sharpest Santoku knife and prepare myself to test my strength.

It was quick and I hope relatively painless for the fish.  For me, I cried like a baby in my backyard.  I know my fish is better off now.  I know he was suffering.   What's the lesson I am taking away from this?  I don't know yet.

I suppose when we take on the responsibility of a life, we also take on the responsibility of an eventual death. 


I guess in the end, my goldfish got what most of us really want, a long happy life and a short painless death.  I hope, someday, I get the same.