I Became Toad

Last night as we were walking downstairs to get some popcorn, the subject came up of the Frog and Toad story where Toad doesn't want anyone to see him because he looks funny in his bathing suit. This naturally led to my getting out all of our old Frog and Toad books (by Arnold Lobel, by the way) and reading that story in particular first. Then I went on and came across some interesting things... I have become like Toad. Yes, I'm very serious.

In "The Letter" Toad sits on his porch and is sad because he never gets any mail. This parallels the time of morning in which I check my email and am depressed because I never get any emails that aren't fowards or church related. The story goes on with Frog writing a letter to Toad to make him happy. That parallels some of my friends who have either A) sent me random emails that have made me feel happier or B) sent me packages even though I'm about to see them in a week or so.

In "The Story" Frog is sick, so he asks Toad to tell him a story. Toad does all sorts of things like walking up and down his porch, standing on his head, pouring glasses of water over his head, and banging his head against the wall, but in spite of all those things he cannot think of a story. Honestly, I've done some crazy things to try to think of material for scripts or to think of ways to fix things done wrong in the scripts. I am Toad again.

In "A List" Toad makes a list of things to do today. That right there is a major part of my life. I make lists all the time. Lists of favorite things, lists of things to do, lists of books to read, lists of people to pray for. You name it, I've probably made a list related to it.

In "The Dream" Toad has a strange dream in which he performs. But, after doing many wonderful things, he loses Frog, who had been watching in the audience. As anyone who knows me well knows, I have bizarre dreams all the time. Like last night I dreamed I was in a plane crash, and a couple nights ago I dreamed something about a fake cast list that was actually a means of sending a message from one set of spies to another.

In "Christmas Eve" Toad waits for Frog to come over, but he gets worried and starts imagining what could have happened to Frog. Finally he decides to get a rope to get Frog out of the hole, a light so that Frog can see in the dark woods, and a frying pan to hit the animal that's chasing Frog. Just as Toad leaves the house, Frog is there, just fine. I have imagined something happening to people who are late more times than I can remember... And my fears have always been unreasonable. They've gotten to their destination just fine.

Finally, just my habits are Toad-like.
Toad: "Now, seeds. Start growing."
"Drat!"
"We shall eat one very last cookie, and then we will stop."
"I am going back to bed."


Frog: "Come out and see how wonderful the winter is!"
Toad: "I will not. I am in my warm bed."


Frog: "The sun is shining! The snow is melting. Wake up!"
Toad: "I am not here."

So here I am. I probably wouldn't be exactly who I am if it hadn't been for Frog and Toad. Books really can shape your life, whether you mean for them to or not.
So what about y'all? Have there been any books you've grown up with that have affected you in any way, shape, or form?