A Wake for Bubba the Fish-Funky Llama

Funky Llama Malbec
It is with great sadness that I report that our brave little betta, Bubba, passed shortly after 1am. While taking Adobe, our little white dog, out for a potty break I stumbled through the kitchen I thought to check on Bubba. He was belly up on the bottom of his water pitcher. His once beautiful ruby-colored body starting to turn a bit gray.
In the morning, I told Mr. Ben that Bubba had been sick and has to go away. He glanced over to where Bubba’s green plastic tank was supposed to be. “Oh, no!” he said. I asked him if he wanted to send off Bubba by the traditional big flush or bury him in the garden with the tomato plant his grandma gave him for his birthday. “Bury him in the garden.” I was proud of my barely 3-year-old. He made a quick decision, one that would actually nurture his tomato plant as Bubba returned to the Earth.
Later, as Mrs. Dan was making his bed, Ben exclaimed. “Elmo’s sick, we need to bury him in the garden.” I guess my avoidance of using the “d” word wasn’t well thought out. Mrs. Dan explained that Bubba had passed on and had died. “Ok” Ben said with a sad face.
I moved Bubba’s water pitcher to the little fridge, to act as a make shift morgue until we could have our farewell ceremony later in the day. I brought around the large flower pot that held Ben’s tomato plant. I wrote “Bubba” across the front. It would serve as a marker and a name for the plant. Form henceforth this tomato plant would be called “Bubba”.
Mrs. Dan surmised he died of a stroke. “He was only using the fins and gill flaps on one side. He was paralyzed on the other side from a stroke.” If she wanted to play Augusta CSI I was okay with that.
Mrs. Dan asked if I was sure Bubba was really dead. I told her I didn’t think he was “pining” as the dead parrot was accused of doing in the famous Monty Python skit. I told her she could be the coroner and confirm his demise. She concurred and Bubba was taken to the flower pot. Miss Angie stopped by to pay her respects. Ben, dug a little hole in the dirt with his yellow Sponge Bob Square Pants shovel and then used Bubba’s fish net to scoop him up and place him in the hole. Bubba’s water was then used to nourish the plant.
There wasn’t a dry eye (or glass) in the house.
So, it was time for the wake. But it would have to be quick because we were all going to the Green Jackets game and see John Smoltz pitch for the first time since coming off the DL.
I opened a bottle of Funky Llama Malbec for the occasion. Mrs. Dan and Miss Angle raised a glass (actually they started before the ceremony… the best way to start forgetting a forgettable week) in his honor. They liked it from what I could tell.
To tell the truth this is my second bottle. I bought one a few weeks ago but got sidetracked and drank it without taking any notes. A wasted pour when you are trying to fill your website with content. So I bought another to save for a special occasion. I didn’t expect it to be a sad occasion.
I recented did a cheap bastard on El Ganador Malbec. I really like that Malbec. It was from the same region of Argentina. This Malbec….. is okay. If it had really stunk up the place I wouldn’t have thought to buy a second bottle for review.
I like the ripe fruit aroma. The first taste is fruity but not sweet, which I like, but the finish is a bit hard and lingering. It was similar to the last Malbec, drier that I’m used to but it lacked the nice tannins the El Ganador Malbec had. We ate some grilled Brats that had been pre-cooked in a pot of Dunkel Weisse, a new dark wheat ale from Michelob. (that’s another story for later). The Brats were spicier than hotdogs but this Malbec would have been better with something spicier. But it was fitting enough for a $3 fish who graced our house for at least a good 9 months.

As I sit here finishing the last bit of the bottle, I realized that Bubba actually outlived any fish I had as a kid or adult. I once won a goldfish at the fair when I lived in Fincastle, VA, working as a news photographer. The 200-year-old cabin I lived in didn’t have central heat. I was going out of town and bought a tank heater to keep him from freezing. I guess I went one click to far on the settings and Fred got cooked. Then there was the goldfish I used in my science project in junior high. It’s best I not go there right now as I mourn little Bubba. This is his wake and I raise this final glass to him.
From: Mendoza, Argentina
Winery: Funky Llama
Purchased: Wine World
Cost: $$6.99
Year: 2008
Stopper: Yellow Plastic Cork

Score: 2 Corks
Dan’s Rating System:

1 Cork: Pour some in the wading pool to kill the mosquito larvae.
2 Corks: I won’t complain if someone else buys it.
3 Corks: I won’t complain if I have to buy it again.