Chasing Frogs

As I sat eating my lunch in the Peace Gardens the other day I saw a little girl running in and out of the fountain avoiding the water. She had a lovely cute little dress and was she so happy and her smile was the most adorable thing I've seen. She clearly enjoyed herself running back and forth giggling and laughing at her mastering the fountain in the sense that she did not get wet and the triumphant jump after she got out of there was like a little replica of the jump Rocky made after running up the steps to Philadelphia Art Museum. She had a toy with her - a little rubber frog. She threw the frog in the fountain and then she went after it. "Look mum, I'm chasing Froggy!", she cried time after another.

"Chasing Froggy". It got me thinking. Her innocent and very enjoyable game is not very far from what a lot of girls do, some for a little longer period of time than others but the goal is the same - to find the Frog that'll turn out to be a Prince/Princess.

Sometimes the Prince stays Royal for a while before "abdicating" and turning into no one special at all. Or perhaps until the girl realises that he may be a Prince but he isn't her Prince and goes off in search for the right one. And sometimes we meet someone how isn't a Prince at all but a distant cousin to the Royal Family who does everything he can to use his name as that is all he's going to get out of it. Obviously her turns out to be a real toad and so far from the real thing that the mere thought that you've fallen for him makes you question yourself and your ability to suss people/frogs out. They are what is scientifically called "Poisonous Frogs" - for example a Green & Black Poison Dart Frog - pretty but lethal so that's not one you want to get your lips on...

This search for the Frog/Prince can go on for a little while longer than the girl would like it to but at the same time, if you settle for Frog no.1 - you might not know yourself what you're looking for and finding out further down the line that that very Frog isn't it, is actually more painful than getting the Frog back to the pond rather quickly so another girl can chase him up. The pond is full of Froggies and I do believe that we all can find the right one even though it might take a little longer than we want.

And to be fair, the Prince might be a tough cookie - he might want to get back into the Pond in search for the right Frog-catcher, just in case there's someone who's a little bit better. How to keep them away from the pond is not something I know how to do. I do notice the existence of different Frogs but I like the one I've got and besides; the darn things were pretty quick when I was at my fittest and I can't even imagine how it'd be now that I've got a bad knee, I have done my chasing --for the time being-- and what if he wants to get back in the pond? Well, he's obviously the fool for not recognising that he would be hard-pressed to find a better catcher in whatever Pond-Kingdom he decides to go to. And do I want to be seen with a foolish frog? No, not really.

So, while enjoying watching that little girl chasing her Froggie and envying her innocence and carefree attitude I couldn't help but not envying her future Frog Chase and all other catchers that she'll have to compete with. I also think she'd be a difficult competitor to beat as she obviously had a head start in how to chase and catch frogs, she got her Froggie in every single attempt at the Fountain. She's already a professional Frog Catcher and I wish all the future Frogs good luck; you haven't got a chance in hell of escaping her...