Some things really do seem to be hereditary.

Even the strange things.

Fish stories, for example.

And no, I am not talking about “the one that got away” stories.

Or how we used to have fish cubes, parsley potatoes and peas on Sunday (?) night while watching GE College Bowl on TV.

And I am not talking about the story of my Mom and the Fish Tank. Although it is kind of similar. You can read … and laugh … about it in this blog entry if you want.

I noticed that there are so many Fish Related Stories here … that I created a whole category for them.

But back to the heredity. I am pleading heredity here.

As was told in the story of the Fish and My Mom, you will remember that Fish in Tanks were a part of my life … somewhere around Junior High maybe. So I do come by this honestly.

But it turns out the roots go deeper. From my Dad’s side as well.

On writing about the latest addition to the Crazy Lady With The Betta Fish here, my Aunt Lois (Dad’s sister) sent me an email.

You will remember her from some other stories here as well. First, Second and Third posts. Seems she once had a fish tank in her house, too. This particular one had been down the hall in her son’s room.

So the story started with a normal day … for her at least … talking on the telephone. OK, so we both talk a lot. And she was talking … to someone … when out of the corner of her eye she saw movement.

In her words:

WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE I SAW SOMETHING THAT WAS CRAWLING ON THE FLOOR THAT PETRIFIED ME—-KEPT COMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ME DOWN THE HALL——WAS LIKE A WALKING FUR BALL——-

Yes, only in my family would the reaction to a fur ball be abject terror. But I guess they don’t usually come creeping down the hall, do they?

CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS A BOTTOM EATER THAT FLIPPED OUT OF THE TANK (OR CRAWLED–?) AND ALONG THE WAY PICKED UP A DUST BALL FROM THE BEDROOM FLOOR———-WAS A SIGHT FOR SURE–

Was starting to be convinced … It’s hereditary.

THAT’S A TRUE STORY—CAN’T MAKE UP THINGS LIKE THIS HOLLY—-IT’S MY LIFE

So as I was considering the fact that this appears to be a multi-generational thing, I read another email she sent me on the same subject … more or less.

What can I say? More evidence.

READ YOUR BLOG ABOUT THE FISH—HAVE TO TELL YOU A SHORT STORY HERE—–WHEN WE WERE YOUNG—–AHHH  40’S —-WE WOULD HAVE NEW YEAR EVE PARTIES HERE——

It appears fun New Years Eve parties might run in the family as well … but I digress.

OUR AQUARIUM WAS ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER——BESIDE THE SUGAR BOWL—-

Now why would she mention that?

ANYWAYS GRAM CAME FOR A HOLIDAY VISIT AND WAS ENJOYING WATCHING THE FISH—–

My Grandma … you might remember her from the story I told about her living in the Amusement Park. She was quite the character.

OK. Before you say it. Maybe that … being a character … is a teensy bit hereditary. Back to the story.

WELL SHE REMARKED ABOUT SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE TANK AND SO I TOOK A LOOK——-“OH NO WE ARE MISSING ONE—–I GUESS ONE OF THE OTHER FISH ATE IT”————YOU KNOW HOLLY THAT TYPE OF THING DOES HAPPEN.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this? I continued to read.

BUT TO OUR SURPRISE GRAM FOUND THE FISH THE FOLLOWING MORNING …

Really bad feeling …

WHEN SHE DIPPED HER SPOON INTO THE SUGAR BOWL TO ADD SOME SUGAR TO HER COFFEE————ONLY AT MY HOUSE CAN YOU GET SUGAR COATED FISH FOR YOUR COFFEE—

Why yes, that is the sound of me thunking my head off the desk here that you hear.

THE VERY FUNNY PART ABOUT ALL OF IT WAS THE BOYS CRACKING UP LAUGHING WHEN THEY THOUGHT OF US HAVING THIS PARTY AND SCARING THE FISH SO BAD THAT IT JUMPED TO IT’S DEATH —AND FLIPPED AROUND IN THAT BOWL UNTIL IT WAS ALL SUGARY———

Little boys have such an interesting sense of humor, don’t they?

I should not have been surprised. It is my family, after all.

Told you it was hereditary.