A quick story about my grandfather, Poppy. He had the best laugh. I mean, he could make a statue smile with his “ho ho ho,” (don’t think Santa, think sweeter, softer. Poppy was gentle.) Poppy bought this frog and stationed it on a wooden bench in his living room. And because the frog is armed with a motion sensor in his mouth, he would ribbit and croak when my family of five barreled into the room for Sunday dinner. And Poppy would laugh and smile. And when we’d shuffle out at the end of the evening filed with crackers and ginger ale with Grenadine, the frog would croak, which made Poppy chuckle again. His laughter was the sound that he left us with each Sunday. His own so happy goodbye noise.
You should know that I got tearful when I write about my grandfather. But let’s fast forward a little more than a decade. The frog came to me after Gran and Poppy were gone. He came with the portrait of Anna (it’s her secretary) and some other treasures. And he’s sat on my bookshelf and croaked at the kids, scared he cat, fallen to the floor, welcomed guests, and generally made us smile. But at the same time, it’s a plastic frog that doesn’t really have a home and doesn’t really serve any real purpose. Most of the time it is switched off and slides off the shelf when the kids pull coloring books or blocks down. He gets tripped over and unfairly kicked.
But the simple reason the frog has lived with me for so long is this sentimental bond that I have with it. Each time I look at it, I hear Poppy laugh all over again. I see his white hair and feel his paper soft hand in mine. I feel totally silly saying it, but in a way, this frog knew my grandfather. But more than that, my grandfather took total delight in him. How could I possibly get rid something like that?
In these 30 Days, this frog has gone in the big blue bin of things to be donated several times. I’ve pulled him out myself, and Jason has pulled him out and fought for his freedom too. We’ve tried to put him in different places-by the front door or on the porch-but nowhere has really worked. And so I’m left asking if the sentimental connection I have to this frog is worth the burden of more junk in my house. Let’s be honest. He’s just more stuff that I don’t need. And (this is the most important part) he isn’t my grandfather, and getting rid of him won’t steal my grandfather’s memories from me. Those memories are mine to keep close, no matter what stuff is on my shelves.
Getting organized means getting rid of a lot of clutter. And getting rid of clutter means cutting sentimental ties. While I might be sad to say good-bye to this frog, I can look forward to an organized house where only my memories are cluttered and overflowing.
I can’t be the only one, so what are you holding on to because of sentimentality?
I would have also rescued the frog, kind of wish I could now
LOL. You and Jason. I have declared that if we can find the perfect home for him, he will stay. I really do love him, but what do you do with a huge green frog (he’s like 10-inches long)? I tried to hide him under the table in the entryway, but we had a visitor, and Jason cussed when the frog croaked and croaked and croaked. 😉 I’ll keep you updated.
Stephanie Roach says
Do you know where we can find a Frog like this? Our son wants one of these vintage frogs so badly, and we’ve searched everywhere for one! A family member had one that they couldn’t part with and our son has been heart broke ever since. 🙁
Stephanie! I did a Google search after I saw this comment, and there is one just like mine on Etsy. Check it out! I hope you find one for your son!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/173160821/large-motion-sensor-croaking-garden-frog?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=vintage_low&gclid=CP7ywrGQ27sCFSRk7AodIEAAYQ
Stephanie Roach says
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I Appreciate You Sharing This Link MORE Than You Know! Happy New Year To You!
Lauren says
I can’t believe you made me think about this. Blast from the past…do you remember the sound that would come from Mimi and Papa’s Christmas tree? I have that and refuse to get rid of it, even though it sounds like a very sick version of the original. Do you know the sound? It reminds me of Chrismas in LR, Papa in his red and white striped night shirt and stocking cap, the adults drinking spiked egg nog, Reed and me getting Red Rider Guns, and your mother laughing so hard she turns red and can barely breathe. I can never get rid of it! 🙂
I wish I remembered that sound. I do remember that Christmas, though! Remember how Santa came to see us, and he knew all our names. And then Reed and I got a Nintendo that we played the rest of the time we were there. Seems like Reed made out that holiday! You’ll have to record Mimi’s Christmas tree sounds for me. I bet I’d recognize it if I heard it. 🙂
what about just putting it out underneath the trees near the kids’ playground? occasionally you will see it, but not too often, and the memories will return. i love my lawn toys. each one has a memory but i don’t really see them every day!
Do you think he can get wet? It will probably make him not croak anymore. But I guess it’s not the croak that’s important.
debbie says
I would give your frog a good home if you still need a home for him/her. We had a croaking frog for almost 10 years at the front of our store. It was wonderful. When I was in the back doing paperwork I always knew when someone came into the store. The kids loved the frogs but it is the adults who continue to ask “what happened to the frog”. I too have sentimental feelings about the frog. The woman who helped us start our store (an accountant) had a frog and she inspired us to get ours. Our friend passed away…but the frog was a reminder. We ended up over the years collecting frogs of every sort, because of the original croaking frog. And now the start of it all is gone. So if you want to sell us your frog, i’d be delighted to have two sets of sentiment in one frog. Debbie