Flying Frog

Library staff makes cookies for our student workers for Valentine's Day. Since that falls on a Saturday and break begins on Friday, we decided to do the event a bit early. After work on Wednesday, I headed to Wegmans to do my usual "cheating" - I just don't have time to bake homemade cookies, and I dislike bringing in pre-made packaged stuff, so I find something pre-mixed that I can pop into the oven and bake easily. Voila! Home baked without the drain on my time and energy.

As I entered the store I was greeted by a cheerful Valentine's display of beautiful flowers and boxes of chocolate draped about graciously and invitingly. They even had packages of fresh fruits - strawberries and blueberries - packaged in heart shaped boxes! Helium balloons were thoughtfully and decoratively bobbing in all the right places. What a sensory delight! A real pick-me-up.

As I glanced at the balloons, I could see that they were anchored in place with different methods. Some had those thick round weights tied to them, other had clothespin clips attaching them to carton tops where a flat weight could not rest. The clothespin ones didn't look too sturdily attached. I wondered what would happen if they came unclipped. Of course, they would float up, so I glanced towards the ceiling just out of curiosity.

There, dangling on one of the hundreds of pipes that ramble about on the ceiling, was a helium frog bearing a huge red heart emblazoned with "I Love You." His froggy legs were adorned with sneakers and he sported a jaunty blue baseball cap and a big happy grin. I scanned the other balloons below. No other frogs in sight. They were all hearts or circles with pictures on them.

Mr. Frog didn't seem to mind being stuck there far from the scurrying crowd below, none of whom were aware of his position or message. He was as unmoved by them as they were by him. Perhaps he simply felt a higher calling, to fulfill the role of blessing those who shop in his store with wishes of love and happiness. Eventually, he will lose height and come down to earth - probably long after Valentine's Day. He will likely get swept up by the cleaning person and carted to the dumpster.

Still, there was something indescribable about seeing him there, all green and gorgeous, flying high and happy.