RIP Bubbles The Alligator

It was a sad day at the Smokes residence yesterday. Our neighborhood alligator, Bubbles, died. We named him Bubbles because every time an alligator ducks his head underwater, you can see bubbles rise to the surface. That's how you know they're there even when you can't see them. 

Bubbles brought a lot of joy to our neighborhood. He was a good one. He never attacked anyone or their pets, for that matter. Sure, he might have startled Mrs. Miller a couple of times, but that's because she's 75 years old with Alzheimer's disease. Other than that, Bubbles was always welcome to catch rays in our backyard. In fact, we'd even feed him if we had leftovers. 

It's not easy being an alligator in a neighborhood lake. There's only so many fish in the pond, and we couldn't just watch him starve. Bubbles always had a smile on his face, whether it was 98 degrees and sunny (his favorite) or 71 degrees in December, he always had a positive attitude. 

In honor of Bubbles, I will take it upon myself to show the world that alligators aren't monstrous creatures, but instead, they are beautiful.

Alligators get a bad rap, but the truth is people just don't know how to interact with them. Once you understand what makes an alligator tick, you realize how sweet they can be. This is why I feel guilty every time I eat gator tail, but it's simply too good to ever stop eating, so it's a guilt I will learn to live with.

Jewish kids have bar mitzvahs, Catholic kids have communion, and Floridians hold alligators. That's how you earn your stripes where I'm from. Most people shit their pants when they see an alligator swim up to their boat, but in Florida, we look around the boat to see if we have anything to feed them with and give them a pet on the head on the way out.

Alligators are a lot like humans. Anytime we drive past cows none of us think to ourselves "I want to eat that thing" but when it's time for dinner no one is scared to order the steak. Same with Alligators. For the most part, they're chill as fuck they just want to lay in the sun and vibe with their friends. 

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But when it's time to eat, they have to do what they have to do. 

I know how insane I sound, but it's the truth. Bubbles might be dead, but his legacy will live forever. RIP Bubbles, you will be missed. 

Say hi to Chubbs for me :(