Debra LaValley's Blog

The Toad

Last Thursday, was a mild evening and there was a guest on my steps. The toad was sitting quietly watching. There were a lot of insects drawn to the porch light. It most likely was in search of food before the cold weather creeps in and it goes into hibernation.

Whenever, I see a toad sitting on the steps – I think of family friend Muriel Smith who passed away a few years ago. She was like a sister to my mom. We used to visit her often. I remember she had a white cat that would open the cabinet and grab cough drops. It liked cough drops 🙂 I also remember Muriel telling me that she often saw toads out on her back steps. She said she believed they were past pets that had passed away – come to visit. I always remembered her saying that. It is strange how the mind remember one thing over another.

Suki & McKenzie

So – decades later – whenever, I see a toad on the steps – I think of Muriel and wonder what she had told me as a child. I wonder which one of my pets was this toad? Suki? 🙂