FEBRUARY 29, 2012

first of all… Happy Leap Year!!

 Have you ever had a gold fish?

They’re awesome!

Not because of their size or originality – speaking of the gold, gold fish (yes, Ma, that was a very long run-on sentence).

The gold gold fish, not the white or black or yellow ones seem to kinda all look alike.  Though if you ever had multiple gold fish at one time, it’s surprising how easily you can tell them apart – how really different they are (I believe that sentence was complete – only felt like a run-on).

And if you have been a gold fish owner, you have named them, even though they aren’t even mammals, and they are destined for the water closet.

You have given them names and remember every single one of them, because this was your only pet.  Oh, you may have had the family dog, or cat, but those weren’t really yours when you had your gold fish. When you had your gold fish you had ceased taking responsibility for the dog or the cat, and those mammals have become Mom’s.

So you have a gold fish, with a name.

No one really knows how long the gold, gold fish lives.  They inevitably come to an untimely doom, due to starvation, fatal digestion (too much food), or leaping.

Though the first two are quite common, I believe that leaping is the second most common cause of death for the gold fish.  I did not want to mention the number one cause, which is by fraternity contest.  That swallowing contest is quite morbid.

Though, possibly not quite as morbid as the way one of Mrs. Power’s gold fish found their way to Davey Jones’s locker: death by grandmother leaving said fish exposed on top of the car, in the bowl, amid 99 degree weather.  It boiled to death.

Why did it not leap?

Gold fish are much smarter than your average fish bowl fish.

That gold fish knew it was doomed for sure if it leapt out onto the 135 degree asphalt.

The poor creature took it’s chances on Nanna returning in time.

I could write plenty of words on Nanna.  She was such a character!

But today, on the day we celebrate the 29ers and the mystery that is Leap Year, we are focused on the wit and wisdom of the gold fish (at least I am).  You see the gold fish will not stay in the fish bowl forever.  They are always thinking outside of the bowl. They (usually) will bet their lives that there is life, more abundant life, outside of the fish bowl in which they are presently contained.   And when they reach that bigger bowl, they will grow!                                                            In fact, it is the only way they will grow.

They know they have to take that leap of faith.

When you know it is time, take the leap.

This is the time when you know you have grown as much as you can in that present bowl.

It can be scary.  There are a lot of mean cats out there.

You’ll have to get help in order to get to that bigger bowl.  Don’t worry.  Everyone who ever took the leap got help.  Don’t be deceived by those so called “self-made men” who forget, who run-on about how original they are.  Everyone, at some point or another was recognized as being original enough to get help.  Remember that. You ARE original enough. So, get that help – even if it is just getting someone to show you the way to the bigger bowl.  It doesn’t matter how small you are now.

You will grow!  Leap!!

Peace,

MPower    02/29/12

Epilogue:  It turns out Nanna had placed a large bowl of cucumbers in cool water right next to Mrs. Power’s little fish bowl.

I guess “Shirley” didn’t realize how much room there was for her in that big bowl.