On a strange impulse, I stopped at Benson’s Pet Store in Saratoga yesterday and bought Maria two goldfish, who she promptly named Sophie and Iris. I knew she would love them – she loves all living things – and she does. They are good company when you are sewing, spinning or weaving. She of course arrange her own rock formations for them and is continuously moving the rocks around.

Today, we were in Saratoga and she stopped and got me a fish – Phyllis the store clerk named him Buddy and so now I have a Siamese fighting fish. I used to breed Betas when I was a kid – in fact I had 400 fish at one time and bred them for five or six years. Strange kid. Now I am quite taken aback to have one again. Fish can be peaceful, even spiritual. Or not. I’ll have to think about this strange gift. Maria loves hers, for sure. They will be well cared for.