Free the Toad

My mother, Ethel Daly, turns 82 on Monday.
She is having a family filled weekend which includes a luncheon she organized at a hotel in Fort Collins on Sunday.  Both my daughters will be there but I will not.  I will be there soon though.

My mom's goal is to have her life organized by Monday.  Papers filed, areas cleaned- she wants to be perfect. I told her I already think she is perfect.

Her other goal is to free the toad that is trapped in her basement window well.  The toad has been in the window well for a while.A few days ago she went to check on the toad and it looked dead.  My mother told me she never cries anymore, even though she has a lot to cry about, but she did cry for this toad.  She told me she was distraught because she had not done enough to save it.

My mom never gives up.  She poured some water on the toad and enlisted the neighborhood children in catching bugs to put in the well with the toad.  The toad has rallied and is hanging on for dear life.  Mom and the children are working on a name for the toad using the initials from all of the children's' names. 

Mom has a plan to set the toad free and she will do it on Monday, July 29th.  Her 82nd Birthday.  She tells me she will place a box in the window well and use a long handled spoon to nudge the toad into the box.  She will then whisk it away to a nearby lake.

I am proud to be her daughter.