Overheard at... Home

The croaking of our resident frog.

Unlike the squirrels who continue to torment me, the frog that lives in the backyard feels like a personal friend. For one thing, his calling does not seem to aggravate our dog. But for another, it may be the time of day he signs his song. I drift off to sleep with his croaking and wake in the morning to it as well. No one else in my family even seems to notice. So, in a way, it feels like his song is just for me.

In reality, that is sort of gross though. Because I am pretty sure I read somewhere that frogs sing when they are trying to mate. Ewwww! I write sweet romance, not reptilian erotica. Although this week The Colbert Report  spotlighted an author who writes dinosaur erotica so I guess it exists somewhere. There is something for everyone.

Can’t we just be friends? I like to think so. I’ve never bought into the whole Harry/Sally thing that men and women can’t be friends. I like to think anyone can be friends- even frogs and people. Among other definitions Webster says a friend is: One attached to another by affection or esteem; A favored companion. Under these definitions my dog, Summer, would certainly be included as one of my closest friends.

Wikipedia goes much farther: Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many types of friendship. Such characteristics include affection, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism, mutual understanding and compassion, enjoyment of each other's company, trust, and the ability to be oneself, express one's feelings, and make mistakes without fear of judgment from the friend. (Link here for full discussion.)

I have to (mis)quote Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice here, “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished -friends- (women). I rather wonder now at your knowing any.”

Under this accounting I would have to say my only friends would be my dog and, of course, my husband. To degrees we may find all of the above in our closest friends. But it seems like a very long list to find in any one person… though perhaps not a frog.

What are your thoughts on friendship? Do you count animals as friends? I love to hear your thoughts and to prove it
I will be giving away a copy of my book, UNTANGLING THE KNOT, to one lucky commenter in October.

Leave a comment for any of my blog posts and at the end of each month I will select one random visitor/commenter to receive a free download of my book. (Note: winner will be notified by a reply linked to their original comment…. Check back at the end of the month for directions on how to claim your prize!)