(
Today's guest blogger is Daniel Incandela. Daniel lives a few blocks from the The Children’s Museum. He has no frogs, but does blog from time to time on his own site: http://danielincandela.com/blog/
-------------------
As a young boy I moved a lot. I experienced urban environments and the countryside. I loved both, but only one of those settings had frogs. As a 9 year old riding around on a bike, running through fields and jumping over creeks – there was nothing better than catching a frog.
One time I caught one and brought it home with me. I built a dwelling for it in my back garden – using rocks as walls, I included a tiny little pond, manicured lawn, amphibian treats and other creature comforts (I don’t quite remember it all). I checked him into his compound and he seemed quite happy with the new digs. I wished him pleasant dreams and went in for the night.
The next day I awoke with excitement and rushed out to check on him. That untrustworthy, ungrateful, yet adorable frog had jumped over the rocks and high tailed it out of there. My dreams were crushed.
Fast forward 30 years and I found myself at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis this past weekend with my family. The memories from yesteryear crept in. Why did that frog leave me? What did I do wrong? Was the mini pond too small? The betrayal. What could have been! And other related sane thoughts for a middle aged man.
I decided to use this visit to Frogs: A Chorus of Colors as my opportunity to get past this emotional issue of mine.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40053","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"150","height":"113","title":"Blow Dart","alt":"Blow Dart"}}]]I never follow paths, instructions or people in exhibitions. So I set off, leaving my family in the dust. I immediately encountered a display case about blow darts. Not what I expected, but as someone that holds a degree in Anthropology – cool. Hunters in Ecuador use poison tipped darts (from a frog) to capture prey. What kid or middle-aged man doesn’t think that’s cool? A bonus for point for frogs for offering poison, hanging out with the Ashuara Jivaro culture and hopping it old school in Ecuador.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40054","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"150","height":"113","title":"Chinese Glider Frog","alt":"Chinese Glider Frog"}}]]Then I wandered looking for my favorite frog. That was easy. I picked one that didn’t move (abandonment issues). Despite its name - Chinese Gliding Frog, this gorgeous jade-like frog seemed content to let me observe and take a photo. Maybe I should have grown up in Asia instead? Another point for frogs all over the world. And for this green little monster for being so patient and still with me.
AND THEN I ENCOUNTERED THIS:
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"40055","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"400","height":"300","title":"Frogger","alt":"Frogger"}}]]
Frogger. A game I played as a kid (in fact video games practically raised me). It brought back so many wonderful memories of being young and playing video games.
Later in life, I watched with my jaw agape as Seinfeld’s George Costanza tried to navigate his Frogger Arcade machine across a busy street to preserve his high score. As George said: “Kramer, listen to me. I'm never gonna have a child. If I lose this Frogger high score, that's it for me.” That’s all I needed to hear. Now the coolness of Frogs began to sink in.
I can only assume that my vanishing frog was ultimately found by a video game designer at Konami. I mean, that’s has to be what happened. My frog was the inspiration for Frogger. Talk about a great dinner party story.
That’s all I needed. Closure.
Since my visit to the museum, I’ve thought about Frogs in a brand new light.
They’re everywhere! Frogs falling from the sky, Warts, Frog Legs, Egyptian Mythology, Kermit, Chocolate one’s in Harry Potter, Science Class, and I’m sure we’ve all read the Ancient Greek comedy The Frogs by Aristophanes (just nod).
Embrace the frog. Find your favorite at The Children’s Museum. Look for frogs in popular culture. And if you happen to catch one, don’t be surprised if it leaves for bigger and better things. After all, it is a frog – they’re ambitious little hip hoppers.
(If you are thinking about owning a pet frog, be sure to read Cathy Hamaker's post, "So you think you want a pet frog?" first!)
