Sandbox Surprise

 Frog Tales Marathon 

When does hibernation start, because I am 100% participating in that. - Anonymous

Pleasant day.

The morning sun was throwing specks of light on the huge, backyard lawn. I had never seen the place look so peaceful. There were scattered ripples of mud and puddles, but the air was fresh after the previous night's rain.

The Girls, three and five years old at the time, were already up, headed outside to the sandbox. It was time for play. Building forts and castles.

Rectangles of light were cast on the sandy mounds which the Girls had started to sculpt when...

... Ribbit!  

The sound from a frog wakened from its deep slumber resounded.

Second Daughter was bubbling enthusiastically, her eyes wide, while First Daughter yelled with an undercurrent of excitement in her voice.

Mom! Look!

It must have been a terrestrial American toad that had burrowed deep into the sand. A tree frog, perhaps, hibernating. Although winters in the southwest were mild, temperatures at night may drop near or below freezing.

Its huge, globular eyes protruding from the top of its head were eyeing them, seemingly saying, Wanna play?

The Girls were bubbling in awe and amazement. They were smitten.

Come on in, I admonished them cheerfully. Breakfast time. Let's leave it alone for now.

They were pleading, But can we play with him later?

Nibbling the insides of their chicken pot pie, they chattered about building a frog house. Can we make him a small swimming pool? What shall we call it? Is it a boy or a girl?

All I could think about was 100% participation in the poetry of hibernation and the comfort of reclusion.

But The Girls were seeing something else in a most ordinary wart-bodied amphibian. 

Magic.

Mystery.

They were living the best part of a journey, experiencing surprise and wonder along the way.

 

Froggy

  Frog Tales Marathon 

Being there for a child is the most noble thing a toy can do. - Woody, Toy Story

It's hard to visualize the toys The Girls had some fifty years ago – all save a few like Froggy. He's as clear as if he were sitting on the Little Bed in the Little Room. 

Froggy was Second Daughter's baptismal gift from her godfather.

Now half-a-century old, he looks simply worn, dilapidated, grubby.

His original eyes, fallen off, had been replaced with googly eyes; his nostrils, re-embroidered with two small dots. His bow tie had been lost.

Froggy sits on Second Daughter's original childhood red bureau in the Grandkids' Little Room in current Columbus home. Hand-me-up Ollie from Grandson keeps him company.

I'm pretty sure that Froggy was there to hear Second Daughter's first word, peach. Or when she first turned over. When Little Girl woke in the deepest dark of night and heard the driving rain, she must have reached out a hand and held his furry leg, and gone to sleep again.

In a world where everyone seems to be larger and louder than yourself, it must have been very comforting to have a quiet and loyal companion. As Little Girl grew up, Froggy must have known her secrets and kept them. 

To this day, Second Daughter is probably no longer emotionally attached to Froggy. Realistically, she has realized that he is sewn, a mere stuffed item. Logically, she knows he is not a living thing. 

But in actuality, if the heart were true, I'm thinking that it doesn't matter much if an eye socket had dropped off. Froggy deserves a dignified old age.

In a world gone crazy, he remains to be a memento of what was comforting.

Uncomplicated.

A dependable hunk of sanity. 

 

Frog Prince

 Frog Tales Marathon 

Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. - Bianca Frazier

Beware of amphibians who can speak in verse.

That seems to be the moral of The Frog Prince.

You know the story. 

A young princess is playing with a golden ball by a woodland spring one day, throwing the ball in the air and catching it.

Once when she throws the ball up, though, she fails to catch it and it falls into the spring. She looks into the water but it’s so deep that she cannot see the bottom of the spring, and so cannot retrieve her ball. She’s so fond of her little ball that she sighs and says she would give all her fine clothes and possessions if she could get it back.

Now it gets exciting.

A frog’s head pops up out of the water. He offers to retrieve the ball in exchange for her friendship. He is actually a prince who has been cursed by a sorcerer.  

The progression is all too familiar.

In the end, the spell is broken when the princess kisses the frog who is transformed back into a prince. And they live happily ever after.

The end.

Very classic fairy-tale ending. I couldn't have scripted it better.

Admit it. 

We're all waiting for our fairy tale ending. But in real life, happy endings are few and far between. 

Not to remain hopeless, though. Who knows? 

Right in the middle of ordinary life, love can give us a fairy tale.

  

Frogger

 Frog Tales Marathon 

Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement. - Jim Rohn

I was loving it. I couldn't keep calm because I was so freaking excited.

Seated in front of our home Atari system, I was in the midst of directing five frogs to their homes. 

If you're a gamer, you may have guessed that I was playing Frogger. 

The game has earned the ominous distinction of being 'the game with the most ways to die'. That upped the scale for me from Charged Up to Thrilled to Wow!!!

I couldn't stand it.

I could lose a life, illustrated by a skull and crossbones symbol where the frog was, including being run over by a road vehicle and jumping into the river.

I could run into snakes, otters, or an alligator's jaws. Sink while on top of a diving turtle.

Or I could jump into a home already occupied by a frog or alligator, or jump into the side of a home or the bush.

Or... oops. I'm going, Splat!

Oh, well. It was just a game. I had a good time playing, so I was a winner even if I had lost.

Kermit

 Frog Tales Marathon 

Music is an outburst of the soul. - Anonymous

Who doesn't know Kermit the Frog?

Arguably Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, Kermit was the host of the Muppet Show and one of the stars on Sesame Street.

I remember The Girls watching him on TV, their eyes wide in anticipation as he said, Hi-ho, Kermit the Frog here! 

He would sweep his arms wildly in dramatic fashion and shout, Yaaaay! Then, he would begin to sing the classic Rainbow Connection.

Rainbows are visions

But only illusions

So we've been told and some choose to believe it

I know they're wrong wait and see.

The Girls, their faces lit with pleasure, would sing along. 

Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me.

They were not even aware of it, but I saw them as music makers. Dreamers of dreams.

Life was a song, and they were singing it.

Keroppi

 Frog Tales Marathon 

The most simple things can bring the most happiness. - Anonymous

I was sad that day, so I went to Goodwill.

For me, shopping was cure for a bad day, or any day, really. It was cheaper than therapy. It was my cardio, and my credit card was my trainer.

I had no sooner poked through a bin when I spotted a colorful billfold. On it was a frog character with big, sparkling eyes, a V-shaped mouth, and cute blush spots on his cheeks. 

Keroppi!

My heart raced. 

With his delightful grin, he was the perfect picture of a happy, ribbiting frog.

From Sanrio data, I'd known him to be adventurous and popular around Donut Pond. 

Imagine him tagging along with his little snail friend Den Den, playing games, especially baseball and boomerangs. He was also known for his amazing singing voice. Maybe it was all that croaking practice?

No second guessing. Resolute with deep breath, I declared. You're mine.

Whoever said laughter was the best medicine obviously never tried shopping.

As I held Keroppi in my hands, I felt the universe align.

All was well with the world.

Senor Frog's

 Frog Tales Marathon 

Find what brings you joy and go there. - Anonymous

Who'd know that a bug-eyed frog could be the inspiration for this two-month Frog Tales Marathon?

I confess.

The invention was brought about by Senor Frog, mascot of a summer dine-in and fiesta spot in Orlando, Florida that we visited last year. 

Even before experiencing the space, I already knew that I'd love it for its quirky name.

Orlando, Florida: July 2024

Squinting against the mid-afternoon sun, up front, I could see a life-sized amphibian in a yellow tee giving a 'high four.' He was beckoning us inside to savor an offering of traditional Mexican dishes.

The tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas were scrumptious and the gaudy fiesta decor was fun. It was a perfect place to eat and drink.

Outside, the air held the promise of a scorching day. It was hot over the palm trees, but the sky was pure blue and I had never felt happier.

And would you believe it? I'm back, at about the same time last year.

Senor Frog awaits. Never mind the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

Senor, he vuelto!

Orlando, Florida: July 2025

Food is the ingredient that binds us together. Orlando, Florida: July 2025

Adios, Senor Frog.

Hasta el proximo ano!