| Thursday, September 09, 2010 | SUBSCRIBE | COMMUNITY LINKS | ADVERTISING INFO | TO REACH US |
 |
|
| HOME | | | HAPPENINGS | | | DECORATING | | | SPOTLIGHT | | | COLLECTING | | | AUTO | | | FASHION | | | TRAVEL | | | EVENTS | | | AUCTIONS | | | CLASSIFIEDS | | | PHOTO GALLERY | | | BLOG |
 |
|
Her late husband, Carlos, a chief engineer merchant seaman who traveled from Los Angeles to Alaska and the Orient, brought back from one of his many trips, a dainty gold necklace with a small frog pendant which she never takes off. Tiny diamonds highlight its back and dot-sized eyes. Over the years, her spouse's gifts often included many lovely Asian artifacts; but somehow many more distinctive and unusual frogs were welcomed into Gonsalves' Santa Rosa residence. Now 66 and retired from her 18-year career as Sonoma County's Public Health Investigator for Communicable Diseases, Gonsalves has also traveled extensively. So have friends and relatives, including a brother-in-law who was in the Navy making him a great source of frogs from Japan. "My son, Jason, and daughter-in-law, Yvette, always knew what to buy me and now their daughter, Tiffany, presently in college, got into the act. In high school she made a wood-cut of a frog portrait that everyone admires. Everyone loves the quilt Carlos's god-daughter made me as well," Gonsalves relays. And there's the handy metal key holder on the kitchen door that her husband created. Few folks she knows pay much attention, but five years ago Gonsalves pleaded, "Enough!" She thinks she has about 1,100 frogs that are now in storage, even though 100 or more are scattered throughout her house and yard. And more keep coming. Amazingly, she claims there are no duplicates. Her frogs' monetary values range from an origami little fellow folded from a dollar bill to a priceless delicate lavender jade ring and a heavy imposing fellow also made of jade that sits on a carved wooden base. Fact and folklore over the years have given frogs a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. To many, their moist skin is considered slimy, making them symbols of disgust and evil. Tales often tell of handsome princes becoming pitiful and pleading, waiting for a lovely lady's kiss. Yet history claims ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans considered frogs as symbols of life and fertility. Research reveals the real frog world consists of more than 5,000 species, "among the most diverse groups of vertebras." Literature, song and television have created lovable examples like the puppet, Kermit the Frog, Beatrix Potter's hero, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, the one that jumped for Mark Twain's story and the old campfire song about the swain who "went a'courting" Not surprising, frogs manufactured for souvenirs come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Those in the Gonsalves' collection boast practical, decorative or novelty features. A foot-high fellow serves as a doorstop while a stuffed toy-like critter holds many frog earrings. There are fancy letter openers, ornate picture frames; candle holders, ashtrays and various paperweights. Visitors admire a frog sandstone puzzle box, a musical carousel frog, even a wooden frog with a ridged back and accompanying stick used to make a version of "ribbit, ribbit." Gonsalves' 2002 Toyota RAV features three professionally airbrushed frogs that proclaim her hobby on the driver's side of her car. No one is ever frightened by the sign near her garage that says, "Beware of Attack Frog." The most unusual and unique of all her frogs, is the distinct little green tattooed on the inside of Gonsalves' left wrist. About eight years ago she vacationed in Hawaii with a group of friends that included a 15-year-old girl who wanted to get a tattoo. Bonnie decided she also wanted one, but unlike her young friend, knew exactly the subject to choose. First, however, influenced by her nursing career, she called the Honolulu Health Department to learn which tattoo parlors were or were not recommended. Then came the task of choosing just the right frog. She was surprised to see so many available options which made the choice the hardest part of the experience. "Oh yes," she remembers. "It hurt like hell, but the whole process only took 20 minutes and, like my necklace, I have it for always." |
|
