– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young – - I don’t think I’m responsible enough yet

You know when you’re growing up and you really want a pet – maybe a dog, cat, bunny, bird, hamster or a fish – and your mother says no, you’re not responsible enough yet? Well, I think that can also apply to when you’re an adult. When I was growing up, we had lots of animals: a dog (two later on), rabbits, chickens, hogs, calves and birds in the house, in the form of cockatiels, parakeets and zebra finches. After I was older, we had goldfish and beta fish. I loved them all and taking care of them, except for the pigs and cows. The hogs chased me and tried to eat me, the darn little cannibals, and the calves were just plain stupid. Anyway, it was generally my job to feed and water the animals, with some help, when I was really little, to gather the eggs and to help change bedding. Mom took care of the birds, but I’d change the water, now and then. Maybe it was her guidance that kept me on track, maybe it was because I felt important being in charge of a living being, maybe it was because I’m not as busy as I am now, but I was very diligent in my daily duties. I made sure the water was cold and fresh, the food dishes were filled up to the brim, the bedding was aired and fluffed, and the animals were groomed each day. When we got the fish, I changed their water each week, making sure to let tap water sit at room temperature for 24 hours, to get rid of the chemicals in it. I even washed the bowls and decorative rocks that went in them, and dried them....despite knowing they’d just be covered with water once more. The fish were fed twice a day, morning and evening, without fail. Yep, I took good care of all the animals. That’s why it’s so puzzling, that now, as a grown adult, I can’t even keep a virtual pet from dying. In the past couple years, I’ve killed not one, but three electronic axolotls. It’s really not a difficult task. It starts as a teeny, tiny, little thing and you feed it, and clean the tank. It just swims around and gets all happy to see you. You’d think it wouldn’t be so hard to remember to open the app on my phone, feed it, clean the tank and tap the screen a few times, to make it happy, but apparently, it is. Poor things, I’ve now let three of them starve to death, because I forgot to feed it in time. It can last for several days, before it perishes, so I should have enough time to make sure that doesn’t happen, but it hasn’t worked out so far. I’m now raising my fourth little axolotl, so, fingers crossed that it works out. Perhaps that’s why adults say we’re not ready for the responsibility. Or, maybe they just don’t want to get a pet.