Yep, you can pet frogs!

  A few months back, a young lad visited the Bayou.  He, like most boys his age, had a great interest in the Frog Pond.  He caught tadpoles and let them swim free from his hands, chased dragonflies and spent an hour or so croaking like a frog.  During this time, his grandmother kept telling him to "Be careful!", "Don't chase the frogs!" and "No, you cannot pet a frog!"  Well, I was all for the being careful.  You just never know when there might be a snake among the lily pads.  I was ok with not chasing the frogs, although, frogs don't really care.  It was that statement about not petting frogs that struck a chord.  Yep, you CAN pet frogs!  I know Grandma did not mean that it was wrong to pet them but rather that she did not think he COULD pet them.  Yep, you CAN pet frogs.

  There is one green frog that has been in the pond long enough to become familiar with me.  This little rascal sits on the side of the pond or beneath a piece of driftwood on the edge and is not easily frightened.  I have petted it many times and, well, that little boy needed to pet it, too.  After asking his grandmother's permission, I gave the lad careful instructions.  He needed to move slowly, be quiet and not make any sudden movements.  He agreed that he could do this so I let him proceed.  His grandma and I watched as he eased to the edge of the pond where the froggy sat.  Slowly, ever so slowly, he reached his hand down to the frog and, after a few seconds, started petting it!

  I have never seen so much excitement in a little fellow's eyes as I did then.  Even though you could tell that he was about to burst with glee, the little boy did not make any sudden movements to startle his new friend.  Once the frog had enough of the attention, it hopped into the water and swam to a lily pad and the little tyke bounced around the yard with sheer happiness.  Grandma, on the other hand, stood in disbelief of what she had just witnessed.  "Never in my dreams would I have guessed that he could pet that frog!" she exclaimed.  I just smiled. Yep, you CAN pet frogs.