It's easy to get wrapped up in the enchantment of hundred-year-old and older sea turtles that outweigh you ten to one or tigers whose heads are bigger than you. But what about God's favorite creatures (and mine)? If your zoo lacks the animal so great they named a cracker after it, well, it just isn't complete.

Some of these fishy friends have buggy eyes, others pouches on their heads that look like giant pink brains, while others simply have fins that are plain useless. They are gold, sometimes with white and/or brown patches in various hues, but let's face it man, anyhow you slice it they're some good lookin' fish.

I've seen pandas, Sasquatch, even hunted dragons, but for my money (which I'm told is all locked up in trust) I'll take the goldfish any day. I have no time for peacocks squeeling like thrice-flogged children, parrots mimicing my every utterance nor ravens calling out "nevermore." All that's for the birds if there's fish to be seen. They may not be on the verge of extinction and they're not hard to find, but what they are is perfectly entertaining. I won't give away their whole routine, but it focuses largely on swimming. I won't say more, I don't want to ruin it for you.

If you get a chance, try to spend a quiet moment just watching the goldfish. It brings me joy and I just know that somewhere in you is a person who can find joy and solice in them too.