Koi carp are such a friendly species that are a pathway into feeling closer with nature and the fishes that inhabit the majority of the planet, the watery world. More friendly than sharks and rather easily maintained they offer cross cultural appreciation as the Japanese, a nation scorned by many Americans generations ago created a sort of board game, like chess where those with certain patterns, markings, colors and conformation would be considered the most prized. All the while those who love the fish for their own sake appreciate even the mutant fry that like Nemo has his or her personality meaning no harm, but rather rhetorically wanting like us for the fulfillment of that chance to exist in a healthy environment to enjoy simple pleasures, which in their case include mouthfuls of food we provide. My fish are my family as much or more so in some respects as those of a similar genome. The hobby is not about the people in it, but the spectacle of koi. In this time of Thanksgiving I'm grateful most for the blessings of opportunity to enjoy life in some measure through those things often most unlike me including my koi.